What they are doing to you (-or-) Why I wouldn't hire these guys to negotiate for a ham sandwich

By Tom Flake

Yesterday House Speaker John Boehner spoke about the Republican position on raising the debt ceiling.  The position was essentially that any increase in borrowing authority needed to be tied to an equal decrease in spending.  Sounds good on the surface.  The Democratic position is essentially that the increase in borrowing authority needs to be decoupled from any negotiations with regard to cuts in spending.

Here's the thing.  Both parties seem to be working around an increase of $2.4 trillion in borrowing authority.  When fully exercised (notice I didn't say if) the national debt will be $16.7 trillion.  So let's say that both parties "compromise" and that the debt ceiling is raised and spending cuts of $2.4 trillion are agreed to.  What they aren't telling you is that these cuts will be to a baseline budget over ten years.  This means that in reality the cuts are going to be more like $240 billion per year.  Who really talks about cuts in their aggregate amount over ten years anyway?  Is that how you and your spouse discuss the household budget?  "Gee dear I know we are still spending more than we make, but just think how much we'll save over ten years?"

The current deficit is $2.6 trillion per year.  Cutting the budget by the amount that the Boehner is floating will reduce the deficit to $2.4 trillion... does that sound to you anything like what you thought you were sending the new guys to Washington to do?  Reduce the deficit by 1/13?  I am still trying to run the numbers but even this number doesn't sound anything like the Ryan plan.  So essentially the Republicans have already caved on the Ryan plan (which was wholly inadequate) AND they are working in the wrong direction.  BTW how much have the Democrats moved from their position?

As far as I can tell the Democrats have ceded no territory.  "We need to increase spending and no cuts to anything is the only acceptable alternative".  I like their tenacity and wishour guys had half the same testicular fortitude.  You might consider calling and writing your Congressman and Senators.  I  suggest using the phrase, "Have I mentioned your job is on the line here."

Comments

[greg46107]

So essentially the Republicans have already caved on the Ryan plan (which was wholly inadequate)...

Can you point me to some reliable references on that, or would you prefer for that opinion to stand wholly unsupported?

[Amazed]

Here's how it works, Greg. Refute it with your own facts (or opinions), or publish your own blog, but don't just throw mud without an alternative.

[Tom Flake]

Greg,

Which part would you like me to substantiate:
1) The Republicans have already caved
2) The Ryan plan is wholly inadequate?

Tom

[greg46107]

F%$k you, Amazed. That was a totally honest question addressed to the author.

Yes, Tom, I would appreciate your substantiating both statements. I'm not trying to start anything here. I simply wanmt as much info as I can get. No harm. no foul.

[Bernie]

People are feeling that both parties are all playing the same game. A few are for the people but, it is like this is our thing and we run the show. They want a government that is too big to fail. God please help this nation - we need a true change of minds and hearts.

[Tom Flake]

Greg,

With regard to why the Ryan plan is wholly inadequate see my post from 5/5 found here http://www.brutallyhonest.org/brutally_honest/2011/05/now-back-to-reality.html and the associated comments. If the post is inadequate, search Google for the Ryan plan and read it for yourself to prove just how broke it will leave this country.

With regard to how/why the Republicans have already caved. Stay tuned.

Tom

[Tom Flake]

Greg,

So the Republicans caving is a developing story from the standpoint of pointing you to a source. But here is what we have as of today:

From Reuter

Negotiators eye $2.4 trillion debt limit hike: Kyl

..."To go to the end of the year next year you have to do about $2.4 trillion in debt ceiling (increases), which means about $2.5 trillion at a minimum in savings" over 10 years or more, Kyl told reporters.

This is the $2.4 TT I quoted in my post and the ten year figure I cited.

Now you need to do your homework and read the Ryan plan...Take a look specifically at how much it proposes to reduce the deficit over the next ten years.

You should see that the proposal that Kyl is working from in this latest piece is less than the Ryan plan...That is caving...Further, the Ryan plan was wholly inadequate.