What I'd really like to see when you folks make your pie charts is you tie mandatory spending categories to their taxes, and you tie discretionary spending to its revenue. Medicare has a tax, SSN has a tax, and there is unemployment ins that employers pay into. What I'd really like tos ee is where the income tax and corporate taxes go towards the discretionary spending.
Yes, we all need to tighten our belts, but most Republicans believe "shared sacrifice" means that the middle and working classes should tighten their belts while the upper class gets all the privileges and tax cuts for the possible chance they may toss their table scraps to everyone else.
I think we all understand the need to cut spending, however most of us also understand that the big money financed tea party is making sure that the cuts are on the backs of the middle and poor class. Wouldn't want to disappoint their wealthy supporters by having them pay there fair share. Where were all these people so concerned about the deficit when Bush Jr was in office?
@vjspath That's right, Unlike the economic problems we've had the last few years, when Bush was fully in control of the factors that turned a $365 billion surplus into a deficit. Part of that was giving tax cuts. It only makes sense that some of these tax cuts and loopholes be removed, not they're selfish.
I posted this vid in Fark because I appreciated the neutral tone Fortenberry maintained in order to spark a civil dialogue. Judging by the comments on the Fark link, I may have invited cynicism and jackassery to the party... my apologies if it spills over onto the youtube comments.
Did he just say the US government just doubled in size? That's like 2,000,000 more jobs. Who the hell got those jobs and why isn't Obama getting praised for solving the unemployment problem? Lying politician guy is lying. The charts are lying on an epic scale too, but hey. Exponential lying.
The difference between Y2000 spending and Y2011 spending is war.
Nations in the past have always raised taxes to pay for their wars. America has instead CUT taxes while starting wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terror. As a result, the country is bankrupt.
"Really long wars bankrupt the state. An army on the march costs 20 times more than an army garrisoned or an army at home. You can make your nation wealthy, or you can fight a war for a long time -- you cannot do both."
Not in your district, but all my support in the world for actually using MATH when addressing the public and not fluffy blanket terms that make it sound like "well we can fix this with a couple easy law changes".
Thanks for the good explanation. I'm concerned that you would say "shared sacrifice", when 50% of the people in this country are NOT paying taxes. There is no "fairness" in that.
It's obvious our debt has to be reduced and there is absolutely no reason to wait for a future congress to address it. Please contiue your efforts to get this under control. If the president or the senate choose dedfault over the bill passed by the house, let them live with it.
(1) Why is SS and Medicare lumped in with the budget? They both have their own tax basis and should be addressed independently.
(2) The Obama Budget was submitted to Congress months ago. Why no congressional action until the current debt ceiling crisis? Isn't is the job of Congress to adopt a budget and authorize appropriations? Is Congress asleep at the wheel?
(3) With regard to spending, isn't the $10 Billion per month we spend on the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan worth mentioning?
Fortenberry has become an establishment, inside the Beltway elite. He is always too eager to approve programs that will grow government. I have never seen him vote for a program that would dramatically reduce the size of government. I have been on his telephone-town halls, and he has actually said he is against cutting government jobs. It is impossible to cut the size of government, without cutting the number of government jobs and salaries. Fortenberry needs to be primaried.
Really, "leveraging a moment of clarify?" I think you meant to say, "leveraging a moment of crisis for Nebraskans and the recent of the country." I agree, we have a problem with natiional debt, but your methods are short-sightened, danerous and will probably require every citizent to pay more than their fair share in the long run. I am angry and ashamed that this is an example of Nebraska politics.
if for over 24 years i've put money away & in a couple of years want to get it, is that unethical/unjust/unfair/abusive/greedy? not being able to get it is, in fact, all of those things. as much as i am 'entitled' to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness, i am 'entitled' to that which i've put away for when i'm 65. to see this money as an area to reduce is disrespectful, unimaginative, and lazy. we sent you to congress to 'move the ball down the field', sir. not simply punt it w/o thought.
fairer taxes? yes, sir. but what did you mean? a simple restoration of the +/-38% for the top 1 to 10 from their current and for the past 11years level of %+/-35% would do so much more than reducing/eliminating pell grants, npr, social security and medicare. the residents of your district who need pell grants, currently/will rely on current levels of social security/medicare did not cause the recession. i want the money i send to washington to go to education and healthcare, don't you?
1. Stop referring to Entitlement spending as "Mandatory" and Defense spending as "Discretionary." Defense spending is Mandatory as it is required by the Constitution. Entitlement spending is Discretionary as it is not required by Constitution.
2. Stop saying that both parties caused this problem. While there are irresponsible Republicans, wreckless spending is a defining characteristics of the Democrat Party.
@hemiforever Tax cuts generally increase revenue because of increased incentive and opportunity. The 2003 Bush tax cuts did not cause revenue to fall. Over-spending caused our deficits, not lack of revenue.
The liberal Bush was one of the irresponsible Republicans I mentioned - he failed to stop the current disaster, started by Democrats under Clinton.
Fabulous presentation of our fiscal situation. Thank you for taking the time and energy to educate your constituents. I really appreciate the hard work you do for us. Cutting is never easy, but you appear committed to the task. I ask that you hold strong and not allow continued deficit spending and out-of-control government growth.
What is with blame? Let's focus on facts and support the efforts to get ou of this mess!
dfireman7 7 months ago
clinton had a republican senate and house knucklehead- check facts
ndfive 7 months ago
What I'd really like to see when you folks make your pie charts is you tie mandatory spending categories to their taxes, and you tie discretionary spending to its revenue. Medicare has a tax, SSN has a tax, and there is unemployment ins that employers pay into. What I'd really like tos ee is where the income tax and corporate taxes go towards the discretionary spending.
tjboucher 7 months ago
Yes, we all need to tighten our belts, but most Republicans believe "shared sacrifice" means that the middle and working classes should tighten their belts while the upper class gets all the privileges and tax cuts for the possible chance they may toss their table scraps to everyone else.
ClockLock 7 months ago
terrific videio! I like the plain speaking foundation and the very little bias.
jrizos 7 months ago
I think we all understand the need to cut spending, however most of us also understand that the big money financed tea party is making sure that the cuts are on the backs of the middle and poor class. Wouldn't want to disappoint their wealthy supporters by having them pay there fair share. Where were all these people so concerned about the deficit when Bush Jr was in office?
vjspath 7 months ago
@vjspath That's right, Unlike the economic problems we've had the last few years, when Bush was fully in control of the factors that turned a $365 billion surplus into a deficit. Part of that was giving tax cuts. It only makes sense that some of these tax cuts and loopholes be removed, not they're selfish.
hemiforever 7 months ago
I posted this vid in Fark because I appreciated the neutral tone Fortenberry maintained in order to spark a civil dialogue. Judging by the comments on the Fark link, I may have invited cynicism and jackassery to the party... my apologies if it spills over onto the youtube comments.
thorthistle03 7 months ago
@thorthistle03 Hannibal Lechter also spoke in a neutral tone.
hemiforever 7 months ago
@thorthistle03 fark, civil dialogue? are you new at this internet thing?
dave1y2000 7 months ago
Did he just say the US government just doubled in size? That's like 2,000,000 more jobs. Who the hell got those jobs and why isn't Obama getting praised for solving the unemployment problem? Lying politician guy is lying. The charts are lying on an epic scale too, but hey. Exponential lying.
dave1y2000 7 months ago
You want to control spending? Easy... just do two things:
1) End the Wars
2) End the Bush tax cuts.
There. You just saved two trillion, spending back to fiscal levels. No entitlements or social programs are cut.
The only fundamental thing wrong with the United States government is the fallacious belief that it could wage war without paying for it.
Ishkur23 7 months ago 2
@Ishkur23 Yes, but the chicken hawks thought they could pay for it with Iraqi oil
hemiforever 7 months ago
The difference between Y2000 spending and Y2011 spending is war.
Nations in the past have always raised taxes to pay for their wars. America has instead CUT taxes while starting wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terror. As a result, the country is bankrupt.
"Really long wars bankrupt the state. An army on the march costs 20 times more than an army garrisoned or an army at home. You can make your nation wealthy, or you can fight a war for a long time -- you cannot do both."
~ Sun Tzu
Ishkur23 7 months ago 2
Not in your district, but all my support in the world for actually using MATH when addressing the public and not fluffy blanket terms that make it sound like "well we can fix this with a couple easy law changes".
xSeerux 7 months ago
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Thanks for the good explanation. I'm concerned that you would say "shared sacrifice", when 50% of the people in this country are NOT paying taxes. There is no "fairness" in that.
nobozos5150 7 months ago
It's obvious our debt has to be reduced and there is absolutely no reason to wait for a future congress to address it. Please contiue your efforts to get this under control. If the president or the senate choose dedfault over the bill passed by the house, let them live with it.
Artmba 7 months ago
(1) Why is SS and Medicare lumped in with the budget? They both have their own tax basis and should be addressed independently.
(2) The Obama Budget was submitted to Congress months ago. Why no congressional action until the current debt ceiling crisis? Isn't is the job of Congress to adopt a budget and authorize appropriations? Is Congress asleep at the wheel?
(3) With regard to spending, isn't the $10 Billion per month we spend on the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan worth mentioning?
lylevannier 7 months ago
Fortenberry has become an establishment, inside the Beltway elite. He is always too eager to approve programs that will grow government. I have never seen him vote for a program that would dramatically reduce the size of government. I have been on his telephone-town halls, and he has actually said he is against cutting government jobs. It is impossible to cut the size of government, without cutting the number of government jobs and salaries. Fortenberry needs to be primaried.
DakotaStrider 7 months ago
Really, "leveraging a moment of clarify?" I think you meant to say, "leveraging a moment of crisis for Nebraskans and the recent of the country." I agree, we have a problem with natiional debt, but your methods are short-sightened, danerous and will probably require every citizent to pay more than their fair share in the long run. I am angry and ashamed that this is an example of Nebraska politics.
smillNE 7 months ago
if for over 24 years i've put money away & in a couple of years want to get it, is that unethical/unjust/unfair/abusive/greedy? not being able to get it is, in fact, all of those things. as much as i am 'entitled' to life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness, i am 'entitled' to that which i've put away for when i'm 65. to see this money as an area to reduce is disrespectful, unimaginative, and lazy. we sent you to congress to 'move the ball down the field', sir. not simply punt it w/o thought.
grook888 7 months ago
fairer taxes? yes, sir. but what did you mean? a simple restoration of the +/-38% for the top 1 to 10 from their current and for the past 11years level of %+/-35% would do so much more than reducing/eliminating pell grants, npr, social security and medicare. the residents of your district who need pell grants, currently/will rely on current levels of social security/medicare did not cause the recession. i want the money i send to washington to go to education and healthcare, don't you?
grook888 7 months ago
Nice presentation, but I have two suggestions:
1. Stop referring to Entitlement spending as "Mandatory" and Defense spending as "Discretionary." Defense spending is Mandatory as it is required by the Constitution. Entitlement spending is Discretionary as it is not required by Constitution.
2. Stop saying that both parties caused this problem. While there are irresponsible Republicans, wreckless spending is a defining characteristics of the Democrat Party.
SteveRiese 7 months ago
@SteveRiese That smacks in the face of evidence. Bush took a 365 billiion surplus and blew it on tax cuts and two discretionary wars.
hemiforever 7 months ago
@hemiforever Tax cuts generally increase revenue because of increased incentive and opportunity. The 2003 Bush tax cuts did not cause revenue to fall. Over-spending caused our deficits, not lack of revenue.
The liberal Bush was one of the irresponsible Republicans I mentioned - he failed to stop the current disaster, started by Democrats under Clinton.
SteveRiese 7 months ago
Fabulous presentation of our fiscal situation. Thank you for taking the time and energy to educate your constituents. I really appreciate the hard work you do for us. Cutting is never easy, but you appear committed to the task. I ask that you hold strong and not allow continued deficit spending and out-of-control government growth.
sjaquez 7 months ago