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The chart does not support your conclusions unblock Apr 2013 #1
If you take the POV that entitlements are inviolate then everything else gets cut first. dkf Apr 2013 #2
Only a few extra percent of GDP in revenue would make a big difference unblock Apr 2013 #5
No, if you decreased defense and non entitlement spending, you'd have a primary surplus muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #23
If you collapsed both of those things now then maybe so. dkf Apr 2013 #30
The 'reasonable' bit is in my 2nd paragraph muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #34
Clinton raised taxes on the top earners by about 3%.... Wounded Bear Apr 2013 #36
Obama raised taxes on the top earners above Clinton rates. dkf Apr 2013 #46
In the OECD, only Mexico and Chile collect a lower percent of GDP in taxes than us. dawg Apr 2013 #40
I think the point is that entitlement spending is set by formula Recursion Apr 2013 #3
But revenues aren't etched in stone. unblock Apr 2013 #6
SS is self funded and doesn't cost the Fed Gov anything, Nor did it have anything to do with the sabrina 1 Apr 2013 #8
No matter how many times that myth gets repeated, lowering SS payments would decrease the deficit Recursion Apr 2013 #13
obviously cutting any expense will temporarily decrease the deficit magical thyme Apr 2013 #17
I'm all for dropping the full SS age to 55, at least until unemployment drops below X% Recursion Apr 2013 #18
well many of us are, because it's the 1st step to cutting for all magical thyme Apr 2013 #33
It is not an expense that is part of the budget, you are being lied to Dragonfli Apr 2013 #63
I realize they're trying to rob Peter to pay Paul's debts magical thyme Apr 2013 #68
fair enough! Dragonfli Apr 2013 #72
No matter how many times you repeat that lie, it is still a lie Dragonfli Apr 2013 #62
Apparently the Social Security trustees are liars. former9thward Apr 2013 #83
How? It does not claim it is part of the budget and says nothing to disagree with me Dragonfli Apr 2013 #84
So you are stating the SS trustees are part of the "Republican lie". former9thward Apr 2013 #85
No, just your misrepresentation of one of their projections, try reading the post Dragonfli Apr 2013 #86
No, that's still a strawman of your imagination Recursion Apr 2013 #89
Repeating a lie multiple times does not make it true, the treasury handles their money, so what? Dragonfli Apr 2013 #91
SS can not be funded out of General Revenue BY LAW. The myth is that SS has anything Vincardog Apr 2013 #80
Repeating that still doesn't make it true. Recursion Apr 2013 #90
Repeating lies does not make them facts. Quit it. Vincardog Apr 2013 #92
"So, where does the money come from", would be the next question bhikkhu Apr 2013 #59
The money comes from the trust fund's surplus when payments out exceed FICA in Dragonfli Apr 2013 #65
The point is, the surplus isn't held in cash, its held in US treasury bonds bhikkhu Apr 2013 #70
So the lie remains the same, not redeeming bonds= income Dragonfli Apr 2013 #71
Its about cash flow bhikkhu Apr 2013 #74
It's a lie. The SS trust fund is not "one area of the budget", you are talking about Dragonfli Apr 2013 #75
That's quite a ridiculous thing to say muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #19
We can set future entitlement spending, not future discretionary spending Recursion Apr 2013 #20
So is your concept of government that you can't trust future congresses? muriel_volestrangler Apr 2013 #25
It's not about trust, it's about what decisions are binding Recursion Apr 2013 #35
Spooky chart of speculations! Rex Apr 2013 #4
You don't account for revenue Lasher Apr 2013 #7
+1 HiPointDem Apr 2013 #9
Not taking sides, but your closing comment is not quite correct ... DreamGypsy Apr 2013 #41
That is easy to see, as I intended. Lasher Apr 2013 #49
I am not disputing the fact that the MyGovCost website is spinning data to support its purposes... DreamGypsy Apr 2013 #57
Social Security is paid for with the payroll tax, that should not be included. AnnieK401 Apr 2013 #10
But why do you break it out that way? freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #11
Well you can only decrease interest payments by reducing the deficit and the debt. dkf Apr 2013 #32
Social security payments do not contribute to the deficit and the debt. freedom fighter jh Apr 2013 #39
You can reduce interest payments by keeping interest really low = bad economy Coyotl Apr 2013 #44
Ever hear of ... GeorgeGist Apr 2013 #56
Why not pass the JObs Act that Obama proposed to get that tax revenue rolling in again? CTyankee Apr 2013 #12
History has shown it is rare to grow out of debt. dkf Apr 2013 #66
I've been reading Krugman since he started his NYT column over 10 years ago. He has CTyankee Apr 2013 #73
Makes a great case for a highly progressive tax rate ... Scuba Apr 2013 #14
They are two different things Cosmocat Apr 2013 #15
we definitely need Unrec back. magical thyme Apr 2013 #16
Here we go again. hobbit709 Apr 2013 #21
I sincerely don't get your angle. trumad Apr 2013 #22
This contradicts the post you put up yesterday that shows interest isn't a major factor. leveymg Apr 2013 #24
Well he uses information from RWing sources, proudly Rex Apr 2013 #60
Oh, just come out and say you think Social Security should be done away with, and get it over with. djean111 Apr 2013 #26
Social Security is not a government expense. Laelth Apr 2013 #27
Repeal the full Bush tax cuts. Thank we can begin this conversation Tom Rinaldo Apr 2013 #28
We aren't talking about cutting economic safety net programs for all of us Recursion Apr 2013 #37
Umm, Cost of Living Increases are designed so that benefits can be paid in constant dollars Tom Rinaldo Apr 2013 #43
"Constant dollars" is not an objective thing, though Recursion Apr 2013 #48
Yes he has, and the near unamimous concensus of independent economic experts is Tom Rinaldo Apr 2013 #52
Seniors today certainly have a higher standard of living than seniors 10, 20, or 30 years ago Recursion Apr 2013 #54
I don't accept that. Tom Rinaldo Apr 2013 #55
The richest 4/5 is a new silly season word game. TheKentuckian Apr 2013 #69
Republican tripe. 99Forever Apr 2013 #29
They are also spreading the Republican lie that SS is part of the budget Dragonfli Apr 2013 #79
Especially... 99Forever Apr 2013 #81
For anyone who doesn't believe that tax fraud and offshore banking, along with defense and .. ananda Apr 2013 #31
It would seem that it is all interest from looking at that chart. dawg Apr 2013 #38
Don't forget that thr Social Security spending assumes the big benefit cut which will occur bornskeptic Apr 2013 #77
Still, it isn't a picture of spending out of control. dawg Apr 2013 #82
If Social Security is the largest creditor, Downwinder Apr 2013 #42
Tax collections at 25% of GDP would cover everything, even in 2080. dawg Apr 2013 #45
Gee dawg, your chart makes it look like our low tax philosophy is the entirety of our problem. dawg Apr 2013 #47
Indeed, dawg. But going even beyond our unwillingness to pay adequate taxes ... dawg Apr 2013 #50
Right on, dawg! dawg Apr 2013 #51
I agree with all of the dawgs! Dragonfli Apr 2013 #76
Projections.... not so much MattBaggins Apr 2013 #53
We're borrowing at almost zero percent interest. Honeycombe8 Apr 2013 #58
OK, but isn't about 2/3 of that interest payable to the Social Security Administration? 1-Old-Man Apr 2013 #61
I believe you missed the gorilla in the room, like most usGovOwesUs3Trillion Apr 2013 #64
-1 ...and I miss the unrec button. L0oniX Apr 2013 #67
The same clowns who once assured us all that Obama would never ever Marr Apr 2013 #78
If I want to read RW ignorance there are plenty of other sites I can peruse. Doremus Apr 2013 #87
Seniors are not at fault for this situation. JDPriestly Apr 2013 #88
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