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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: i-node who wrote (539349)	12/29/2009 1:42:25 PM
From: RetiredNow	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1577883

Well, I agree that the unfunded liability is a big problem, but don't forget that Bush added to that problem with his Medicare Prescription drug plan. The funny thing is that I would bet my house that had McCain been elected, we'd be running an almost equally large deficit as we are right now. Take a look at the website at this link: usgovernmentspending.com Notice how Pensions, Health Care, and Defense are our government's largest expenses. From that first spending breakdown, you can click on the chart icons to the right and watch the spending trajectory. You'll notice that defense spending has increased the most through today, but will decline under Obama. Health care and pensions, however, are projected to continue increasing dramatically.

To: i-node who wrote (539349)	12/31/2009 4:10:33 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 1577883

The reality is that this debt (and it IS a real debt, just one our government has chosen not to openly discuss) is the problem. Its the primary problem, but it isn't real debt. Canceling or reducing future government programs isn't default. That could be considered a technicality since the programs won't be canceled and are very unlikely to be slashed (at least until they actually causes a major current crisis) its effect is pretty much the same as having a lot of debt, but then you could just change my statement in the last paragraph to "technically it isn't debt". Also another technicality, a lot of Republicans supported the creation and expansion of entitlements, so its not like the GOP can slip all blame for the spending, debt, and unfunded future spending liabilities from them, but your larger point is true, they where passed primarily by the Democrats. I'm really mostly in agreement with your post despite three paragraphs mostly expressing disagreement.