For the first time in my life I’m about to witness something I thought I’d never see in two hundred years (or rather my life time): The US government (albeit through their own stupidity) is going to implement automatic spending cuts to help curb the deficit (the latter which has now surpassed $15 trillion).
I know some of my progressive and conservative friends see the idea of a drastic cut across the board as evil, but honestly when are we going to start tackling our deficit? I’m tired of the future looking gloomy because one side wants to tax everyone to death while the other wants to lighten everyone’s load with no one doing anything about the debt-o-pocolypse that threatens the future of everyone.
While the automatic cuts are not a permanent solution, it’s a start in my book.
Yes, I know other GOPer’s have entered (or will enter) the 2012 slugfest, but these two are in my honest opinion real contenders (as in they actually have a chance at winning the general, and not just the primary).
Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has thrown his hat into race, as well as Tim Pawlenty from Minnesota. Since Tim is new to the game, here’s his promo video (with my thoughts underneath).
He’s a fresh face to the game and apparently sounds like a nice guy too. He has an impressive record, but he comes off as a career politician (which means he may have trouble reaching beyond the bureaucratic bubble if elected like Obama).
I do think he has a 50% chance of surviving the GOP primaries, although as long as he doesn’t engage in any mud slinging he should be fine.
Mitt Romney is more familiar to people thanks to his campaign against John McCain, and honestly he was my prime choice last year.
Unlike Pawlenty, Romney has real (or rather longer) experience in the private sector, as well as experience with being Governor in the most progressive state in America (which is weird seeing he is conservative).
Romney does have the smarts to help us get out of the mess, but I’m still skeptical on whether he will survive the primary (even if I feel he could beat Obama in the general).
Mitt will have to contend with the past of RomneyCare (which is somewhat similar to ObamaCare) as well as bigots people who don’t like Mormons in order to secure the nomination.
I give him 25% chance of surviving the primaries due to his big business ties (which progressives and the tea party brigade see as evil), although unlike last time he may actually put up a decent fight.
Any others?
What about Herman Cain? Too theocratic for my taste. What about Donald Trump? His faith in Birtherism will lead to his undoing.
Sarah Palin? She’s done a fantastic job as governor, but her leaving early makes me uneasy (as we don’t need another amateur in office).
I’m not sure who else is running, but thus far America has 2 real alternatives on the GOP front.
For the first time in my life I now fully understand lemmings, and why these fur balls run off the cliff.
Because that is what America is about to do by passing this healthcare bill.
(Politico) The Democratic Party’s decades-long push to remake the U.S. health care system cleared a major hurdle early Monday morning, with the Senate voting to advance a massive $871 billion bill to extend coverage to nearly all Americans and tighten regulations on private insurers.
Less than two days after releasing a bill with 383 pages of changes, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) corralled his politically diverse caucus and delivered the 60 votes necessary for the most crucial test vote in the legislative process so far–effectively assuring the reform package will clear the Senate later this week.
Whether or not universal healthcare (government style) is a glorious endeavor for the masses I’ll leave for the pundits to decide (even though I’m strongly against government healthcare given their long track of failure with everything save the mail & military).
But enacting this now in the middle of a recession is fiscal suicide.
One that makes me want to dust off the passport again, as living through an eternal recession is not my idea of what a glorious future looks like.
Of all the televisions shows that I have watched since I was little, none have left a larger impression upon me than a Japanese anime flick called Trigun.
Anyways while watching the Trigun anime many moons ago, I came across an interesting quote from the main character, Vash the Stampede:
“The ticket to the future is always open.”
With hyperinflation (via massive deficits), swine flu and pychotic dictators preaching nuclear war against their neighbors, I sometimes wonder if the future is going to be as open and friendly as I always dreamed it would be.
Despite the seriousness of these issues, the US is as polarized as ever, with both sides making childish remarks against each other (such as “the party of no” or Telepromter of the US aka TOTUS) instead of finding solutions on common ground.
What ever happened to the help thy neighbor attitude, even if you disagreed with most of their political views?
Perhaps I am naive, but I do know that if we don’t figure out how to work together, the US will be finished as an economic power (not to mention a military one as well).
Which brings me to another quote from Trigun by Rem Saverem:
“And if you can keep your vision clear, you will see the future. What happens in our future is our own responsibility.”
I think it’s time we start working together instead of taking shots at each other, as if the other party were the full reincarnation of the Nazi party.
Because whether we like it or not, it’s going to take ALL OF US to solve these unprecedent times–and if we can not even do that then we might as well dust off our passports and start taking classes in Manderin (aka Chinese).
Before any of the healthcare nuts (from either side) flame the comment section, I want you to take a look at this chart from the Washington Post.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the future burden of America. Your kids, and grand kids and great grand kids are going to have to pay this massive debt back.
Despite this massive debt, it now looks like our awesomely, awesome politicians are now thinking of making Universal healthcare a reality–even if they have to enact the nuclear option to get it.
(The New Republic) It’s been in the works for a while and now, according to senior Captiol Hill staffers, it’s a done deal: The final budget resolution will include a “reconciliation instruction” for health care. That means the Democrats can pass health care reform with just fifty votes, instead of the sixty it takes to break a filibuster.
The deal was hatched late afternoon and last night, in a five-hour negotiating session at the office of Senate Majoriy Leader Harry Reid. A trio of White House officials were there: Rahm Emanuel, Peter Orszag, and Phil Schiliro. Also present, along with Reid, were House Budget Chairman John Spratt and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad.
The reonciliation instruction specifies a date. That date, according to one congressional staffer, is October 15. (The original House reconciliation instruction had a late September deadline.)
The New Republic goes on how supposedly this will be funded via pay as you go, which is a great theory and all except for one thing–we are in a fraking recession folks! When everyone is currently scrounging around for cash, the last thing they need is another tax when they are already struggling to pay their utilities.
Since the pay as you go model is (probably) doomed to fail, President Obama is probably going to have to pass another “stimulus” bill in order to fund this boondoggle, which means your upcoming inheritance may have a future resembling Zimbabwe when the Chinese cash in on all those bonds we owe them.
Whether you are for healthcare or not is irrelevant by one simple fact: universal healthcare is very expensive! If this bill passes (which I fear it will) then America’s future will probably look something like this:
Game over America.
(Hat Tip:AllahPundit on Hot Air, Image Credit: Unable to read artist name in photo, but its there)
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