MSNBC's Matthews: Sequester Cuts Are a "Doomsday Machine"

[babylonsister]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/02/21/chris_matthews_sequester_damages_the_republic_lowers_hope.html

MSNBC's Matthews: Sequester Cuts Are a "Doomsday Machine"
Video @ link~



Chris Matthews: "It's a down and dirty world when you decide chopping down the government and hurting the economy is the smart move. But bring it all down is now the hard right battle cry. Slash spending, short the pentagon, screw up traffic control, whatever raises the noise level, bashes Democrats and lowers hope. Is this the tea party dream? Is this John Boehner's version of feeding time at the zoo, giving the crazies what they want so they will sit in their seats and behave? Is this final payment to insanity the last vestige of what calm Republicanism is ready to cough up? But how else can you explain the readiness of the GOP leadership to let this Frankenstein's monster, this doomsday machine, this sequestration go all out berserk? How else can we understand the party of Lincoln doing such economic damage to the Republic, such damage and moral to the people?"

[badtoworse]

1. Did Matthews propose any spending reductions?

Whether we get more revenue or not, we can't keep spending at the rate we currently are.

[babylonsister]

2. Ummm...were you worried when Bush was prez? Here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251289337

and here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022412933

[badtoworse]

4. The short answer is yes.

Bush's spending greatly increased (nearly doubled?) the national debt - that is a fact, but it doesn't change where we are now. I thought I read somewhere that we are currently spending 32% more than we are taking in as revenue. If true, that is unsustainable.

[el_bryanto]

5. How do you feel about increasing revenue as part of a balance approach? nt

[badtoworse]

6. In the long run, we will need to do that

The focus now should be on getting spending in line.

[el_bryanto]

7. Why should that be the focus now? Why not a balanced approach?

And what programs do you favor cutting spending too?

[badtoworse]

8. I'd be OK letting the sequester take its course

From a credibility standpoint, I believe we should deal with spending on a standalone basis - that would show resolve on the part of Washington to stop spending money we don't have. From the standpoint of political reality, I don't think a tax increase would pass the House at this time. The Republicans got a lot of shit from the deal in December. I don't think they will cave again. The odds of getting more revenue would be better if real spending reductions actually happened.

[Dragonfli]

11. You are right, we need to spend MORE in the short term, recovery is important

The lack of enough stimulus has made this the worst recovery on record. To seek austerity would slow growth even more as has been demonstrated every time the Hoover approach has been taken. Not some of the time, every time. There are real time examples in Europe right now, a double dip recession is not a good thing.

Huge investments in infrastructure along with work programs will get money back in peoples pockets, thus increasing demand. Letting the corporations funnel all of the money to their off shore accounts guarantees it will not be spent but hoarded.

The Chicago school of economics has put us here, more of the same will make it worse.
30 years of tax cuts to the wealthiest and wage cuts to the rest are why we are spending more than we take in. It would also help if rather than giving mega corporations billions we actually collected taxes from them instead. Sure, the Peterson plan is good for the Petersons of the world but it is very bad for the economy and 99% of the population.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022412724

The military must be cut drastically at some point as it is by far the biggest expense and the most wasteful spender in US history, but even that should be done after the economy has stabilized.

[Protalker]

3. Read Time expose ruinous Health Care

Means test recipients, raise level of ss tax to a million, have Medicare reem bursement the norm. Double drug enforcement pn borders. Have pharmacutical companies
And doctors pay for opiate addiction treatment. Use cocaine sentence guidelines for opiate and meth dewlers.

[Kolesar]

9. Airlines and stock brokers should pay for their own air traffic control

Tax jet fuel and aviation gas. Flying has always been on the public dole.

[badtoworse]

10. That would also impact middle class families going to visit granny in Florida