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Corrupt Government Title: We Owe HOW MUCH??? One of the problems with the debate over the “national debt” is that there’s no generally agreed upon definition of that term. Is it what the federal government owes, or what it owes foreigners, or what the whole country, private and public sector together, owes? Does it include off-balance-sheet items and contingent liabilities? There’s a hundred-trillion dollar gap between lowest and highest on this spectrum, which allows each commentator to confuse the rest of us by picking the measure that best suits their point of view. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, for instance, uses “net debt” — the amount that the US owes foreigners — to argue that since this number is relatively small and slow-growing, we’re actually fine. Analysts using broader definitions of debt come to the opposite, more apocalyptic conclusion. Consider this from today’s Wall Street Journal, on the impact of off-balance-sheet obligations:
Then there are the “unfunded liabilities” of entitlements like Social Security and Medicare, which dwarf the official national debt. From a recent Zero Hedge article:
Here’s a chart (compiled by John Williams’ Shadowstats) illustrating the impact of adding unfunded liabilities to the national debt: There are two reasons that debt and unfunded liabilities are treated as separate things: 1) The practice allows government to hide its true obligations in the same way that Enron did — right up to the day it evaporated. In other words, it’s a legally sanctioned lie. 2) Debt and unfunded liabilities are, at first glance, different in some ways. Debt is a legal obligation that gives the lender recourse, i.e. some way of getting back some of their money. In the private sector a lender who’s not getting paid can seize the borrower’s assets or force the latter into bankruptcy court where a judge decides who gets what. With sovereign debt, the creditor (who lent money by buying bonds) can sell those bonds and use the proceeds to buy up the borrower’s assets. Unfunded liabilities, in contrast, are simply promises that don’t carry a legal obligation. In theory, Medicare could be cancelled tomorrow by Congress. Just like that, the program and its associated unfunded liabilities would disappear. So the question becomes, how real — and therefore how dangerous — are US unfunded liabilities? The answer is that because they represent a promise to tens of millions of retired baby boomers who expect to get free money and health care for the last 30 or so years of life, they’re effectively more real an obligation than a Treasury bond. A politician who messes with the Most Selfish Generation’s free health care will find himself back in the private sector before the polls close in the next election. Compare this with the probable repercussions of stiffing China or Saudi Arabia on bond interest — some contentious headlines and a bit of turmoil in the foreign exchange markets that most voters would hardly notice — and it’s clear that unfunded liabilities have, if anything, a more solid claim on future economic activity in the US than does interest on Treasury bonds. So our true national debt is government debt plus private sector debt plus off-balance-sheet obligations plus unfunded liabilities, which comes to somewhere around half a million dollars per man, woman and child, or two million per family of four. We can’t pay this of course, so the story of the next few years will be the search for the least painful way of breaking our promises. And history is pretty clear on this: a country with a printing press will always use it before exploring the harder options of actual default, whether through non-payment of interest or cancellation of benefits. (2 images) Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest We Owe HOW MUCH??? Not enough! Vote Romney! Vote Obama! Vote incumbent!
#2. To: Capitalist Eric (#0) Then we need to raise tax rates back up to 1953 levels. We didn't have these problems before we started subsidizing the rich. Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET #3. To: mininggold (#2) (Edited) Then we need to raise tax rates back up to 1953 levels. We didn't have these problems before we started subsidizing the rich. LOL. What a shallow reply. An old saying goes, "without data, you're just another person with an opinion." The article above provides quite a bit of good data- which I'd confirmed a couple of years ago- but I'll now provide some more... From a Kitco analysis written in 2010,
"According to the Federal Reserve’s most recent report on wealth, America’s private net worth was $53.4 trillion as of September, 2009. But at the same time, America’s debt and unfunded liabilities totaled at least $120,000,000,000,000.00 ($120 trillion), or 225% of the citizens’ net worth. Even if the government expropriated every dollar of private wealth in the nation, it would still have a deficit of $66,600,000,000,000.00 ($66.6 trillion), equal to $214,286.00 for every man, woman and child in America and roughly 500% of GDP. If the government does not directly seize the nation’s private wealth, then it will require $389,610 from each and every citizen to balance the country’s books. State, county and municipal debts and deficits are additional, already elephantine in many states (e.g., California, Illinois, New Jersey and New York) and growing at an alarming rate nationwide. In addition to the federal government, dozens of states are already bankrupt and sinking deeper into the morass every day. It's time to get past the propaganda that you've been fed all your life. It's time to wake up and look around, and understand what's happening. This situation cannot be fixed; the financial collapse of the U.S.A. is now a foregone conclusion.
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #4. To: Capitalist Eric (#3) a Kitco analysis written in 2010, Quoting from such an "unbiased" source. That's way too funny even for a huckster like you. Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET #5. To: mininggold (#4) . As usual you filthy libTURD hag, you aren't able to address the SUBJECT of this thread so you TRY to change the subject. The FACTS are all public and self evident you mewling DNC parrot. DEFAULT or INFLATION are the only possible results of what is going on now fool. The national debt will NEVER be PAID FOR BY TAXES. Especially since your libTURD heros are busy SPENDING our children's future and running the printing presses 24/7/365. You are a mewling libTURD FOOL. Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms. #6. To: mininggold, A K A Stone (#4) Quoting from such an "unbiased" source. The data is freely available through various government websites. More, the calculations are supplied above, so you can check the veracity of the figures. If you think you can disprove them, I'd certainly like to see you try... (((smirk))) Indeed, another news source- who can hardly be considered "right-wing," said "The government's total indebtedness -- its fiscal gap -- now stands at $211 trillion... The fiscal gap is the difference, measured in present value, between all projected future spending obligations -- including our huge defense expenditures and massive entitlement programs, as well as making interest and principal payments on the official debt -- and all projected future taxes." Kotlikoff states:
Our government is utterly broke. There are signs everywhere one looks. Social Security can no longer afford to send us our annual benefit statements. The House can no longer afford its congressional pages. The Pentagon can no longer afford the pension and health care benefits of retired service members. NASA is no longer planning a manned mission to Mars. Now, you stated: "That's way too funny even for a huckster like you." Again, I put up the data. You haven't addressed the data, only devolved into your pathetic insults, in a vain attempt to divert the "discussion." You claim that you're interested in 'discussing' issues. Indeed, YOU responded to the thread I put up, and cannot hold your end of the (supposed) deal that you claim to want. You'll have to do much better. Again, if you can refute the data, I invite you to try. [But I doubt you will; instead, you'll just switch to the loon screen-name, and try to bolster your own untenable position. And good luck with that.]
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #7. To: Mad Dog (#5) you aren't able to address the SUBJECT of this thread so you TRY to change the subject. Well stated. One wonders: can she really be that obtuse?
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #8. To: Capitalist Eric (#7) One wonders: can she really be that obtuse? . IMO she is doing it as a disruption technique. Her posts are usually so ignorant and off of subject, it's difficult to see how they are related to the thread subject unless they are meant as disruption. I don't see how anybody can really be as stupid as she seems to be. But maybe she really is just pathologically damaged? After all, libTARDISM does require it's acolytes to be deeply STUPID herd animals. Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms. #9. To: mininggold (#2) Then we need to raise tax rates back up to 1953 levels. The effective tax rate back then was much less. As there were all kinds of deductions. Tons of deductions.
#10. To: A K A Stone (#9) She threw that out, in an attempt to distract, and turn the coversatio n to something she could more easily manage. That's why I put up the analysis from kitco- to demonstrat e that her whole line of thought is based on lies.
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #11. To: A K A Stone (#9) (Edited) The effective tax rate back then was much less. As there were all kinds of deductions. Tons of deductions. There's tons of deductions now. You just have to have income or wealth beyond a certain limit to make the use of them worth while. Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET #12. To: A K A Stone, mininggold, Capitalist Eric (#9) mininggold: Then we need to raise tax rates back up to 1953 levels. Indeed we need to raise corporate tax levels back to 1953 levels for sure. The effective corporate tax rates in the United States have declined significantly since 1953. Over the 50-year period 1953 to 2003 federal corporate income revenues have fallen from 5.6 percent of GDP to 1.2 percent of GDP. In 1953 the corporate income tax accounted for nearly 30 percent of federal revenues, but by 2003 the tax collected only slightly more than 7 percent of federal revenue. The effective marginal tax rate on new corporate investment has fallen from 70 percent in 1953 to 32 percent in 2003.
The sharp decline in effective average and marginal tax rates on corporate income over the past 50 years largely reflects tax preferences in the income tax code that directly and indirectly subsidize new investments by corporations. While the effective corporate tax rate exceeded the staturtory rates throughout much of the period 1953-1982, since 1982 the effective tax rates are actually lower than the staturtory tax rates...Overall since 1953 the effective federal tax rate on corporations has fallen by 66 percent.
http://books.google.com/books?id...tax%20rate%201953&f=false Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #13. To: lucysmom, A K A Stone, mininggold (#12) mininggold: Then we need to raise tax rates back up to 1953 levels. LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exactly as I predicted, you change your screen-name, to bolster your failed position. Thanks for making me laugh. :))) Now then, we return to my point: you can tax everyone to 100% of their earnings, confiscate every dollar worth of assets in the entire country, and we will STILL be completely bankrupt. As usual, you return to your bullshit arguments, even after facts which CONCLUSIVELY destroy your position are laid before you. As usual, therefore, you attempt to divert the conversation, even being so despicable as to switch screen-names to make yourself look better. What a laugh. Oh, and BTW, you STILL have not addressed my points. If you want to dispute the FACTS I have laid before you, you're still invited to try... LOL.
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #14. To: lucysmom (#12) Indeed we need to raise corporate tax levels back to 1953 levels for sure. We should only do that if we really need the money. First off they take all the money out of your bank account and put you on welfare. They should also take your house. You need to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. You obviously have to much if you have money to buy a computer and time to talk on the web.
#15. To: Capitalist Eric (#13) loonybitch: Indeed we need to raise corporate tax levels back to 1953 levels for sure. You're as wrong as wrong can be, however I doubt you'll let that stand in your way. Now then, we return to my point: you can tax everyone to 100% of their earnings, confiscate every dollar worth of assets in the entire country, and we will STILL be completely bankrupt.
Well you might as well pack it in 'cause there's no hope. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #16. To: A K A Stone (#14) First off they take all the money out of your bank account and put you on welfare. They should also take your house. You need to walk the walk instead of talking the talk. You obviously have to much if you have money to buy a computer and time to talk on the web. What are you yammering on about? Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #17. To: lucysmom (#15) Me: Now then, we return to my point: you can tax everyone to 100% of their earnings, confiscate every dollar worth of assets in the entire country, and we will STILL be completely bankrupt. You're finally starting to get it. There's no hope for the current system, and the U.S. dollar. China has stopped buying US debt, as have damn-near everyone else. The only entity buying it (as noted here) is the Fed- which means we've already passed into the realm of endless money-printing. In this case, they don't have to print it, merely create it with a computer terminal! Oh, you may get your Social-Security check, but with the inflationary policies currently underway, your check won't buy anything, because the dollar is rapidly falling in value. While the major banks can manipulate the price of precious metals and oil (for a while), the evidence of inflation is as close as your nearest grocery store. As to whether I should "pack it in," I'm simply splitting my savings between hard cash, precious metals, and things that my family will need for a long-haul economic collapse. My vehicles are paid off, my pantry is stuffed to the gills, my garage is rapidly starting to look like a grocery store, and I've installed extra storage sheds, to make more room in areas that are easier to secure... In other words, I walking the talk. If you can't afford the typical precious metals like gold or silver, I'd suggest the other precious metals- brass and lead. There's a lot of people that have been on the dole for so long, they're going to revolt when the nipple finally dries up. They'll get desperate, and take matters into their own hands. Your choice is quite simple: do you want to be a victim, or do you want to ride through the coming hurricane? Choose wisely, LM. You still have time... but I suspect not too much...
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #18. To: Capitalist Eric (#17) I'm simply splitting my savings between hard cash, precious metals, and things that my family will need for a long-haul economic collapse. My vehicles are paid off, my pantry is stuffed to the gills, my garage is rapidly starting to look like a grocery store, and I've installed extra storage sheds, to make more room in areas that are easier to secure... In other words, I walking the talk. If it's a long-haul economic crash you're looking forward too, then paying off your cars and storing food ain't gonna help. Guns and amo ain't gonna provide much security for the long haul either. The elites are making plans to leave the country and you had better do the same. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #19. To: lucysmom (#18) If it's a long-haul economic crash you're looking forward too, then paying off your cars and storing food ain't gonna help. Guns and amo ain't gonna provide much security for the long haul either. It would seem we *do* agree on something... The measures I'm taking are to address short & medium- term issues. It's impossible to predict long-term effects, so my efforts are to improve my marketability, so that I can earn money anywhere in ther world, whether through a large corporation, or hanging out my consulting shingle. If it's through the latter avenue, I already have a team of heavy-hitters lined up, who have all told me they want to work for me, so that's a viable option. With regard to leaving the country, the answer is "no." This is MY country, my HOME. And nobody is running me off. The elites are running, because they know if they don't, they're gonna' end up like like Marie Antionnette. And NOBODY will shed a tear for them.
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #20. To: Capitalist Eric (#19) It's impossible to predict long-term effects, so my efforts are to improve my marketability, so that I can earn money anywhere in ther world, whether through a large corporation, or hanging out my consulting shingle. If it's through the latter avenue, I already have a team of heavy-hitters lined up, who have all told me they want to work for me, so that's a viable option. You're dreamin' Eric. That'll get you through a blip, assuming you learn some manners, but not a long haul. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #21. To: lucysmom (#20) Capitalist Eric: It's impossible to predict long-term effects, so my efforts are to improve my marketability, so that I can earn money anywhere in ther world, whether through a large corporation, or hanging out my consulting shingle. If it's through the latter avenue, I already have a team of heavy-hitters lined up, who have all told me they want to work for me, so that's a viable option. And your basis of this is what, exactly? Oh, that's right, NOTHING. Yeah, you really do "brandish" your ignorance, don't you? LOL. As if your approval (assuming you had a clue what I do in my line of work) really meant anything. LOL. Get OVER yourself, bimbo.
That'll get you through a blip, assuming you learn some manners, but not a long haul. More of that "brandishing," obviously... LOL Your opinions are irrelevant. You're so limited in your thinking, so completely dulled, that you can't comprehend how people can see the world as anything other than what you see... You come here, to sell people on your personal prison, your untenable beliefs and the indoctrination that you have embraced. By your logic, everyone should just stick a pistol in their mouth, and pull the trigger... You first. LOL.
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #22. To: Capitalist Eric (#21) You first. Your idea, after you. LOL. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #23. To: lucysmom (#22) Your idea, after you. I think he's asking you for a date. Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET #24. To: Capitalist Eric (#21) You're so limited in your thinking, so completely dulled, that you can't comprehend how people can see the world as anything other than what you see... You come here, to sell people on your personal prison, your untenable beliefs and the indoctrination that you have embraced. You is the angry guy stocking up on weapons, food, and gold daring the world to come try to do you in - talk about personal prison. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #25. To: lucysmom (#24) You is the angry guy stocking up on weapons, food, and gold daring the world to come try to do you in - talk about personal prison. It's his way of trying to meet women. He wants the mommy type though. Almost every country in the Middle East is awash in oil, and we have to side with the one that has nothing but joos. Goddamn, that was good thinkin'. Esso posted on 2012-01-13 7:37:56 ET #26. To: mininggold, lucysmom, Capitalist Eric (#25) . You two HAGS are so absolutely REPULSIVE inside and OUT that NO sane man or male would EVER want to be within reach of you vile stupid skanks. But it's cute how you two HAGS pretend that anybody has any interests in you in that way. It makes me throw up a little in my mouth but I'm OK now thanks for caring. LOL! Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms. #27. To: mininggold, lucysmom, Mad Dog (#26) You is [SIC] the angry guy stocking up on weapons, food, and gold daring the world to come try to do you in - talk about personal prison. That's not what it's about... It's what she does, when she cannot refute facts. Disinformation Rule #18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents. Disinformation Rule #9. Play Dumb. In LoonyMing's case, she's not playing dumb... I do find her immediate knee-jerk into swapping screen-names amusing, though. It always lets me know when she's hit the wall with her propaganda. :)
To: mcToejam, rat-boy, drippy, Alzheimer Fred, whitesands, t-bird, #28. To: Capitalist Eric (#27) That's not what it's about... It's what she does, when she cannot refute facts. Eric, Eric, Eric - are you that blind, or just pretending? You're so limited in your thinking, so completely dulled, that you can't comprehend how people can see the world as anything other than what you see... You come here, to sell people on your personal prison, your untenable beliefs and the indoctrination that you have embraced. Capitalist Eric on this very thread Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #29. To: Capitalist Eric, Mad Dog (#27) Mad: You two HAGS are so absolutely REPULSIVE inside and OUT that NO sane man or male would EVER want to be within reach of you vile stupid skanks. But it's cute how you two HAGS pretend that anybody has any interests in you in that way. See Eric's rule #18. Anyone claiming to be an expert is selling something. I brandish my ignorance like a crucifix at vampires. Aaron Bady #30. To: Capitalist Eric, miningmom, lucysgold (#27) . I agree it's a technique used to limit and attenuate actual discussion. "She" is a despicable libTURD TOOL. One of a multitude of gaping libTURD zombies infesting our nation. "Her" act is pretty feeble for sure. I wonder what it is like to be a willing and animated TOOL for TYRANNY as long as your masters tell you it's actually "PROGRESSIVE"? I wonder what it's like to HATE your nation and people? I wonder what it is like to HATE ALL of America? The US CONSTITUTION? These people are seriously mentally ill. Although I sure do admit that they are fun to watch when they don't have power! They always remind me of a tree filled with drunken monkeys! (Although, to be fair, the monkeys have orders of magnitudes more class and dignity than the libTURDS do.) Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms. #31. To: lucysmom, Capitalist Eric (#29) (Edited) Mad: You two HAGS are so absolutely REPULSIVE inside and OUT that NO sane man or male would EVER want to be within reach of you vile stupid skanks. But it's cute how you two HAGS pretend that anybody has any interests in you in that way. . OBJECTIVE TRUTH is an ABSOLUTE defense, HAG. You two HAGS made the aside that there was some sort of biological thing going on, hag. It's YOUR burden to PROVE it skank. PROVE that you are NOT a physically hideous HAG, infested with a bitter wanna be tyrant's soul that would make Dorian Grey's portrait look like Snow White. Unfortunately, (for YOU), the evidence of your black rotten soul is littered all across this forum in your hate filled blather and gibberish. OBJECTIVE TRUTH is an ABSOLUTE defense, HAG. Spoiled, stupid and ignorant, brain dead phuckwads, libTURD fools, tools, and idiots, are the real sickness; the messiah "king" obammy and his regime are only the symptoms. Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
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