Ah truth telling from a REPUBLICAN...

[nadinbrzezinski]

Tool on Sharpton show... this will show the world we are willing to impose the same austerity measures that we are asking others, like GREECE, to suffer though.

Every so often a Republican lets the truth out.

[LaurenG]

1. Here's the thing though, I'm NOT willing to have austerity imposed

on anyone. Well, other than those touting austerity measures, we can start with republicans and work our way up the food chain.

[CleanGreenFuture]

2. So, Cenk's out then?

[Bladian]

4. Probably :(

[bananas]

3. And it won't be a "shared sacrifice". nt

[TBF]

5. As for austerity, let's start by slashing congressional salaries and pensions.

They are all millionaires anyway, it's good for them to do a little charity work.

[JDPriestly]

6. Yes. The Republicans get the 92.7% debt by adding state

and federal debt (which is only about 58.9% of GDP).

In California our debt is high primarily because we adopted the No New Taxes Law by proposition and have to have a super-majority to even adjust our tax code to new realities.

And think of it, that is what the Republicans are now proposing at the federal level.

It is the stupidest idea ever.

I have been wondering why it is that every single Western country is adopting "austerity" measures.

Is everyone afraid to tell China that they have to revalue their currency so that trade is fair and not just all imports from China.

I know that the trade imbalance is a separate number, but it seems to me that there is a direct relationship between industrial capacity which China now has and debt levels which is great for us.

Remember, Germany owed us huge amounts of money after WWI. We insisted that it be repaid in such a way that the German economy was destroyed. I think Germany's debt was due to the fact that we were the industrial power and the major exporters of the time but also due to war reparations we claimed from Germany. If someone knows more about this, please let me know. I know a fair amount, especially about the great inflation in Germany and of course the growth of the NAZI movement in the 1930s.

Austerity is a really horrible idea.

We should abandon or insist on changes to our trade agreements instead. That would also impose a certain kind of "austerity" on us -- a lot of cheap imports would become more expensive, but it would put encourage our industry and create jobs.

Instead, Obama is trying to sell Americans on more trade agreements. We can't pay our debts with the ones we have. We don't have the income because we are not selling enough to other countries. The whole idea of austerity focuses on the wrong thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Chicago boys gone wild

[onethatcares]

10. the reason every single western country is imposing austerity measures

is due to the fac that a very few corporations and people hold more wealth than any government and those people and corporations feel entitled to ALL OF IT FOR THEMSELVES.

Hell, that's a no brainer. Here in the states we're trying to buy new cars and houses while our employers want to cut our wages and have us work part time hours. who the hell can do that?

Of course those wealthy few don't want us to live long enough to organize and rise up either so they're destroying our healthcare network.

Good luck in the near future, things just don't look like they're going to get much better for a while.

[CarmanK]

7. IN GREECE the rich evaded taxes and bilked the govt.

the Greek wealth which is even more opulent than in the US, they have greater world market reach, did not feel any need to pay their taxes and the GREEK govt did not go after the money. The govt failed to do its job. It failed the people of GREECE, it failed the European UNION and it failed to stand up. Of course, there is no need to add that the corruption and betrayal of the state was/is widespread. The people of Greece have gotten short changed for years. The TPARTY NATION is trying to govern in our 21st century with 18th century rules.

[ejpoeta]

8. imposing it on the 98% of US while the 2% of the rich upper crust don't feel a thing

or pay a damn dime.