Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: ok, no more crap about "obama caving". it's called a trial balloon. COMPLAIN TO CONGRESS. [View all]adieu
(1,009 posts)61. Trial balloon or not
How about a trial balloon that offers the following:
* 44% top marginal tax rate for those earning $200,000/year ($280,000/year married filing jointly)
* 10% reduction in the DoD budget ($60 billion) for the next 5 years, then $20 billion for the following 5 years.
* no change to SS
* raise the salary cap for paying FICA from current $107,000/yr to no limit
* reduce medicare age eligibility from 65 to 55 for the next 10 years, then reduce to 45 for the subsequent 10 years, then 35 for 10 years after that, and so on
* change capital gains tax to be equal to income tax, whether it's short term or long term capital gains.
That's the trial balloon to send out. And I think it will get a lot of positive response.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
101 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
ok, no more crap about "obama caving". it's called a trial balloon. COMPLAIN TO CONGRESS. [View all]
unblock
Dec 2012
OP
Hmm. I'm not experienced with people sending trial balloons that they'll refuse to actually execute
MannyGoldstein
Dec 2012
#13
They fully know about SS. What we need to do is elect more progressive Democrats.
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#25
This is not as controversial a interpretation as it may sound. President Obama's senior advisor...
Poll_Blind
Dec 2012
#40
good on you, thanks! i know some du'ers certainly are quite the actual activist
unblock
Dec 2012
#44
The pom pom section was preaching high and low that what turned out to be "the cliff"
TheKentuckian
Dec 2012
#92
Yet another "wonderful" "wonderful" instance of eleventy dimensional chess..
truedelphi
Dec 2012
#63
no. Congress is Republican held. Obama is the one who needs to stand for us!
robinlynne
Dec 2012
#69
Let Congress see what the will of the people looks like. Phone now! Phone often!
WHEN CRABS ROAR
Dec 2012
#70
They always do this. There is a cadre of dedicated Obama haters who flood this place
MjolnirTime
Dec 2012
#79
Quit complaining about us complaining by saying that we need to make him do it.
Fearless
Dec 2012
#82
I say we act as if that was his proposal and to apply public pressure NOW!
fascisthunter
Dec 2012
#84