Sequester in Perspective

Rion · Feb 27, 2013

lordbt said:
I get how the Pied Piper of Panic might benefit politically from peddling this phony argument, but how does it in any way benefit the country? When even such minor cuts are successfully portrayed as impending doom, what chance is there to ever get spending under control? His cheap political victroy will come at a very high price.

It doesn't. My opinion of the man is shifting from plain vanilla narcissist to full-blown malignant narcissism.

Rion · Feb 27, 2013

psalms 91 said:
Ever thought about closing tax loopholes such as breaks for the oil companies that make obscene profits at our expense and dont tell me how poor their profit margin is when they can make 20 billion in a quarter. How about other tax breaks, how about defense since we are bringing troops home, how about the pork projects? I can think of a lot of things to cut without touching entitlements although that will have to be affressed. To bad when tjey were raiding social security theynever thought of this and to bad they dont put the money back so the seniors would not have to sacrifice what they earned.

Even if that was all done, it wouldn't stop the looming crisis we're facing... the real one, not this made up sequester boohooey.

America in Denial as Fiscal Tsunami Approaches - Reason.com

SharonL · Feb 27, 2013

The government could cut every department by 10% and they wouldn't even feel it. I've been friends for 30 years with people who work for the government - when it comes budget time, they really labor on how to spend what is left over because if they don't spend it they don't get it next year. They spend just to spend.

I like Rand Paul's idea to cut salaries of all government and cut benefits and make them live under what they pass like the rest of us.

GarfieldJL · Feb 27, 2013

psalms 91 said:
Ever thought about closing tax loopholes such as breaks for the oil companies that make obscene profits at our expense and dont tell me how poor their profit margin is when they can make 20 billion in a quarter. How about other tax breaks, how about defense since we are bringing troops home, how about the pork projects? I can think of a lot of things to cut without touching entitlements although that will have to be affressed. To bad when tjey were raiding social security theynever thought of this and to bad they dont put the money back so the seniors would not have to sacrifice what they earned.

Okay it would be nice if you broke things up into seperate paragraphs...

1. The "tax breaks for oil companies" only apply to small oil companies that are located in the United States... Otherwise the tax deductions that they get are the standard expense deductions that any other company would get...

But again, the sales pitch is based on a giant distortion a lie. Obama and the Democrats talk about huge subsidies as if taxpayers are signing billion-dollar checks to oil and gas companies. But oil companies dont get subsidies. Rather, like every other business, theyre allowed to take tax deductions for the expenses they incur.
A tax deduction and a government subsidy arent the same. When politicians use the terms interchangeably, it misleads many Americans.
Oil-company tax deductions arent special favors. They are the standard relief afforded manufacturers, mining companies and other businesses to help recognize the costs of operations. Oil companies can deduct their expenses for things like equipment purchases and rig-technicians salaries. The point of these deductions as for any other industry or individual is to ensure taxes are only levied on income after expenses.
Oil companies can also deduct expenses related to exploration or development. The idea there is to provide an incentive to take on the often substantial risk of seeking new energy sources. When these efforts succeed, the energy market expands, prices drop and America moves that much closer to energy independence.
But even these deductions arent unique to energy companies. Many provisions in the tax code seek to encourage certain kinds of behavior. Mortgage deductions reward home ownership. Special tax benefits promote savings in individual retirement accounts or 401(k)s.
Overall, the oil and natural-gas industries claim about $2.8 billion a year in tax deductions. Yet thats a tiny price to pay for the huge benefits the sector generates for the economy.
Oil, gas companies aren’t subsidized - NYPOST.com

If you want to talk about government subsidies, you need to look at things like Solyndra...

In his Friday press conference to discuss gas prices, President Obama was rather defensive, straining to counter the notion that his administration has been unfriendly to oil drilling, something most people would like to see a lot more of these days.
Where do people get that notion? Perhaps his Interior Department appealing a judges ruling that it act on several pending deepwater permits had something to with it.
Obama Blames Oil Companies For Lack Of Drilling
Irony is his moratorium, was why they weren't drilling...

2. The money being saved on the troops no longer being present is already being spent on something else, I think it was part of what was diverted to Obamacare, I may check later on that, but I know it's being set to be spent on something else.

Additionally, a lot of our military ships and aircraft need to be refitted and/or replaced as they are ending their service life. Furthermore, arbitrarily laying off troops is immoral considering they would get thrown in jail for quitting on the job...

Corruption: Our lawless president tells defense contractors they can break the law requiring politically inconvenient layoff notices caused by sequestration defense cuts, and the taxpayers will pay their legal bills.
When President Obama took the oath of office, he swore to uphold the Constitution and see that the laws of the United States were faithfully executed. He lied, and that lie was exposed in the administration's weekly document dump last Friday.
It included a memo from the Department of Labor telling defense contractors not to obey the law and that, if they don't, U.S. taxpayers will foot their legal bills when fired employees sue them for breaking the law.

Read More At IBD: Obama To Defense Contractors: Skip The Pink Slips Before The Election - Investors.com

3. If you look at entitlement spending, it takes up about half of the Federal Budget already, and the mandatory spending which is entitlements and the interest on the debt exceed the total revenue the Federal Government takes in all by itself.
United States Budget Dilemma.wmv - YouTube

Rion · Feb 27, 2013

More fear mongering from Dear Ruler:

lordbt · Feb 27, 2013

psalms 91 said:
Ever thought about closing tax loopholes such as breaks for the oil companies that make obscene profits at our expense and dont tell me how poor their profit margin is when they can make 20 billion in a quarter. How about other tax breaks, how about defense since we are bringing troops home, how about the pork projects? I can think of a lot of things to cut without touching entitlements although that will have to be affressed. To bad when tjey were raiding social security theynever thought of this and to bad they dont put the money back so the seniors would not have to sacrifice what they earned.

For the record, about half of the sequester cuts that you are criticizing republicans for are defense cuts, so Im not sure why you are opposed. Nor are there entitlement cuts in the sequester. As for tax breaks for big oil, Garfieldjl answered that nicely. So, at the end of the day, why do you oppose the sequester?

lordbt · Feb 27, 2013

Rion said:
More fear mongering from Dear Ruler:

Wait, I thought liberals wanted huge cuts in defense. Now Obama opposes it? And people wonder why you cant negotiate with this guy. Someone needs to remind Obama that he is president not head of the DNC.

conamer · Feb 27, 2013

Rion said:
More fear mongering from Dear Ruler:

This reminds me of people writing Stalin while in the gulag because they were falsely imprisoned, asking him to get them out when he's the one who put them there.

conamer · Feb 27, 2013

lordbt said:
For the record, about half of the sequester cuts that you are criticizing republicans for are defense cuts, so Im not sure why you are opposed. Nor are there entitlement cuts in the sequester. As for tax breaks for big oil, Garfieldjl answered that nicely. So, at the end of the day, why do you oppose the sequester?

Even if we had no proof the Obama regime dreamed this up it has liberal fingerprints all over it.

TerranceL · Feb 27, 2013

Rion said:
More fear mongering from Dear Ruler:

For as long as I've been interested in politics democrats have whined about how much we spend on defense. Now we are cutting our defense budget and they whine some more.

SharonL · Feb 27, 2013

Ever wonder why they wanted Hagel in as Defense Sec.? He will be forced to tear up our military and who will be blamed for it - the Republicans.

I have heard several Congressmen come out today and giving examples of cutting where it won't hurt - billions of dollars just laying around not being spent. Hard to understand how government works.

Thunder Peel · Feb 27, 2013

The best thing that can happen is for the Republicans to let this go through and watch when nothing happens. Then Obama is faced with the empty scare tactics that didn't work and when people see that the world didn't come to an end they'll realize the government isn't as important as they've been told.

conamer · Feb 27, 2013

TerranceL said:
For as long as I've been interested in politics democrats have whined about how much we spend on defense. Now we are cutting our defense budget and they whine some more.

Thus the constant contradiction of liberals who just want to win the game without regard to what happens after the game is over.

Rion · Feb 27, 2013

TerranceL said:
For as long as I've been interested in politics democrats have whined about how much we spend on defense. Now we are cutting our defense budget and they whine some more.

Because it's all about promoting themselves and demonizing their opponents.

psalms 91 · Feb 27, 2013

And as long as I have listened to Republicans I have heard the trickle down theory about jobs and money and in all the years I have yet to see any trickle, the poor stay that way and the rich get richer and the Republicans cherish them and give them big tax breaks

GarfieldJL · Feb 27, 2013

psalms 91 said:
And as long as I have listened to Republicans I have heard the trickle down theory about jobs and money and in all the years I have yet to see any trickle, the poor stay that way and the rich get richer and the Republicans cherish them and give them big tax breaks

Republicans point out the economy at that point was in a different situation and then-President Bush was touting the good numbers: the economy added 310,000 jobs and unemployment was at 5.6 percent.
Get more pure politics at ABC News.com/Politics and a lighter take on the news at OTUSNews.com
After three dismal years of job-loss, we all welcome encouraging statistics, Obama acknowledges in the 2004 address. But for most Americans, the health of our economy is measured in a different and more personal way: If I lose my job, where will I find one that pays as well and offers real benefits? Can I afford health-care coverage on my own, or the cost of sending my children to college? Will I ever be able to save and retire with dignity and security? These are the questions I hear hardworking people asking. For them, the basic rewards of a middle-class life, rewards that we once took for granted, have become an elusive dream.
Obama in 2004 Criticized Job Growth Under Bush - ABC News

One thing difference I noticed between Bush and Obama, Bush never ran around blaming his predecessor for problems.

Jeffwhosoever · Feb 27, 2013

psalms 91 said:
And as long as I have listened to Republicans I have heard the trickle down theory about jobs and money and in all the years I have yet to see any trickle, the poor stay that way and the rich get richer and the Republicans cherish them and give them big tax breaks

Rion · Feb 28, 2013

White House threatens to veto bill that gives Obama flexibility on implementing sequestration | WashingtonExaminer.com

revanneosl · Feb 28, 2013

No, Messrs. Inhofe and Toomey. The President will not do your homework for you.

Rion · Feb 28, 2013

More like, Obama isn't interested in preventing any cuts. He's not worried, he's just being his usual, manipulative self.

Sequester in Perspective

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