tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499771266402854669.post8801213294934858434..comments2024-02-08T01:44:24.272-05:00Comments on ModeratePoli: Debt Ceiling 201ModeratePolihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499771266402854669.post-75630745812475702182013-12-03T23:11:48.881-05:002013-12-03T23:11:48.881-05:00@rs, it's the familiar framing device. Conserv...@rs, it's the familiar framing device. Conservatives, and particularly libertarians, love to use 'freedom' and 'liberty.' It certainly works for them, in the abstract. The actual nuts and bolts are a lot harder to sell. If 'freedom' means an end to all sorts of redistributive policies such as: public elementary and secondary education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or most healthcare for the poor, unemployment insurance, SSI--it seems to me that generations of Americans have decided for a little less 'freedom' and more safety net.<br /><br />Only the hardcore want to eliminate those programs--the kind that booed the uninsured crash victim question at the GOP primary debates, for example. <br /><br />Certainly the liberal do-gooders overreached with social programs, but partial rollback, which I think is the desirable option favored by most, is not at all like giving the responsibility "back" to the states. The states did a crap job or none at all, and the people wanted the feds to step up. And they got that. <br /><br />That looks like democracy to me. I'm not worried about going back to the strict interpretation of the constitutional limits because people don't want it. ModeratePolihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01721945380057992971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499771266402854669.post-15649021219523606972013-12-02T05:13:11.008-05:002013-12-02T05:13:11.008-05:00@Dangerous
"The GOP is after support for th...@Dangerous <br /><br />"The GOP is after support for the poor, particularly healthcare and food stamps. They will spend 100 times more for prisons and the military than spend one more dime on the safety net. It's good politics for them "<br /><br />I am not going to argue if this is true or not but there is more depth to the conservative argument then you are allowing. If you look specifically at the values conservatives say they hold you can find alternative explanations. Any National program that overtakes states rights but is not outlined in the constitution will interfere with the federalist conservative values. Pick an issue that you think conservatives have wrong and are being stupid/evil about and I can try to show you what I mean on your terms. <br /><br />I think saying that the GOP is opposing Obama's ideas just to win is a very narrow approach. They simply do not have the same values that you do. <br /><br />someone I follow posted this, and I think he is correct<br /><br />"To me the left/right debate, when done correctly is a debate about whether freedom is a higher value than equity. It doesn't all get down to that but most of it does. There's no one answer to that question but conservatives will more often answer yes and liberals will more often answer no. As a result, conservative bad outcomes are usually generated by free people making bad choices. Liberal bad outcomes are usually generated by government making bad choices. I prefer the former because the degree of bad is generally much lower."<br /><br />http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-26/wal-mart-s-new-ceo-has-to-take-on-amazon-and-unions.html#comment-1142629971Rarely sincerelynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2499771266402854669.post-55808782043849964952013-11-25T15:02:29.679-05:002013-11-25T15:02:29.679-05:00"Maybe the next time the GOP controls the Hou..."Maybe the next time the GOP controls the House, Senate, and presidency, they can pass the legislation and build the accounting mechanisms to implement prioritized payments."<br /><br />Perhaps, but it will be for when the Dems are back in charge, not when the GOP calls the shots. As has happened every time before, the debt and deficits will matter little when they have ownership of them. Tax cuts will come first, last and always, no matter their impact on the budget deficit. They will only cut where it is politically viable (i.e., with solidly Dem constituencies they have outnumbered), but don't expect Social Security or Medicare cuts they would own since they know they would lose votes as a result.<br /><br />The GOP is after support for the poor, particularly healthcare and food stamps. They will spend 100 times more for prisons and the military than spend one more dime on the safety net. It's good politics for them -- the swing constituency is the suburbs where those programs mean nothing but money out of pocket.<br /><br />Consider: If debt and deficits matter so much to Republicans, why did they explore with nary a shrug under Reagan and Bush II?Dangerousnoreply@blogger.com