SELF DELETE - never mind. nt

[gateley]

[Occam Bandage]

1. It would be great if Americans could hear such talk

without going batshit crazy bonkers (goaded on by every political opponent of the candidate who said that, left and right).

[gateley]

4. I would really like our next President come to the people after the first

week and office and say "was I fucking NUTS?"

Regardless of their beliefs and plans, I think our next POTUS is going to be blindsided, and I'm a little tired of all the candidates painting such a rosy picture of the future, with just minimal nods to "it won't be easy."

I need some protein. I'll shut up now.

[MH1]

2. Not sure I agree with your chosen remedies as first choice, but otherwise it's a good point

First choice for me would be raising (maybe eliminating) the cap on earnings subject to FICA tax.

I would rather NOT see the eligibility age raised if it could be avoided.

Oh, and I have "a right", imho anyway, to be in favor of eliminating the cap on FICA earnings. Because I know what it's like to be on the other side of it, and frankly I'd rather pay more tax and have a better society. But apparently that's just me and a scarce few other souls in this country.

[gateley]

5. My point isn't the specifics regarding SS, but rather that I'd like to hear such

PLAIN TALK regarding the issues we're facing. The "tone" of the statement, rather than the specifics.

But since you addressed it, I agree with your positions on this.

[readmoreoften]

3. Wait? Spending for retirees is HALF the federal budget? Equal or more than defense?

Come on. Defense spending was 66% of the federal budget in the early 90s. It has to be more now.

[gateley]

7. I am really sorry I posted this. I always have a difficult time explaining my intent.

I just lifted the quote from an article in Newsweek as an example of HOW I would like issues to be addressed by our candidates -- not the specifics.

[Occam Bandage]

9. And, gateley, this is EXACTLY why candidates don't do that.

[gateley]

10. Okay - learned my lesson! ip-zay the ipp-lay. nt

[Occam Bandage]

11. Ha, not the right lesson, I don't think. Keep fightin' the good fight.

But at the same time, candidates know SS is the much-ballyhooed "third rail." Touch it, and you die.

[gateley]

13. Well it's a lesson I need to learn, regardless.

:hi:

[Occam Bandage]

8. You're confusing all spending with discretionary spending.

Military spending is half of discretionary spending (that is, non-entitlement spending). Entitlements are over half of all spending.

[kdpeters]

15. Interesting. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not part of the Federal Budget

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget%2C_2008

The Iraq war and the Afghanistan war are not part of the defense budget; they are appropriations.

Someone will have to explain that to me. I don't understand why it isn't included in the budget by now, but it seems like a neat trick to keep hidden from the people just how much this war is costing us.

[electprogdems]

6. i agree with your sentiment, but this sounds like

right wing privatize SS bullshit already.

[grantcart]

12. I always miss the party

[gateley]

14. You didn't miss much, believe me. nt