Happy Sequester Day! Cancel The title field is required!

1. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   3/1/2013 11:03 AM

   I trust you are all doing your part to keep our federal government operating...
   To think, we (those of us that pay taxes) just had our taxes go up 2% at the start of 2013 and we figured out a way to keep our lives/families together.
   But our government can't??
   Oh well. All I know is it is so nice not having to worry about which bathroom I have to go in now.
   Look up Phoenix City Council votes to amend discrimination law if you dare.
   When I feel like standing, I'll chose one.
   When I feel like sitting, I'll chose the other.
   Love it!

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   3/1/2013 11:03 AM

   Lowering of your SS taxes was a temporary stimulus measure. Your taxes did not go up 2%.

   
   
   
   
3. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   3/1/2013 11:03 AM

   Huh?
   Is that some kind of new math???
   But OK, I'll play the game that way.
   Since that was a temporary measure, let's say the government spending 35% more than it takes in is a temporary measure too.
   I guess we can eliminate 35% of the government's spending and it wouldn't be a spending cut.
   Wow! That was easy.
   Problem solved.

   
   
   
   
4. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/1/2013 12:03 PM

   This entire thing is load of manure and unnecessary, stupid threats! Anyone that can't adjust to increasing over last years spending by roughly 1.6% should be fired immediately for gross incompetence! There are no cuts! Government never cuts. Why isn't the press challenging the dems and the administration about their obvious failure in management skills? This is Obama's baby. It came from him and Jack Lew. Quit blaming others and simply manage with slightly lower growth. I guess they are too busy trying to smear a reporter that stated the truth and use that as a smoke screen to hide their gross incompetence!

   
   
   
   
5. Kim Brock

   

   3 posts
   
   3/2/2013 9:03 PM

   Scott is kind of correct. Your contribution to the Social Security System is for sure a tax. By the way, How did that stimulus help?

   
   
   
   
6. Wahlin Scott B

   
   3/2/2013 11:03 PM

   Kim Brock said: Scott is kind of correct. Your contribution to the Social Security System is for sure a tax. By the way, How did that stimulus help?

   
   
   The Dow has been hovering around 14,000 and my home has increased 17% in the past year. Personally, my finances have improved significantly!

   
   
   
   
7. Jon Gansen

   

   1 posts
   
   3/3/2013 9:03 AM

   I cant believe 2% is a big deal. Maybe 2% is to those who have cut 20-35% over the last few years but gov. doesnt cut.
   Look at Obama care (POTUS: "Wont cost a dime") http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/341589/gao-report-obamacare-adds-62-trillion-long-term-deficit-andrew-stiles

   
   
   
   
8. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   3/4/2013 7:03 AM

   Here is a great pie chart explaining Sequestration impact.

   
   
   
   
9. Kim Brock

   

   3 posts
   
   3/4/2013 8:03 PM

   Scott, That is the free market working, not stimulus money. In my opinion.
   
   Sean, Saw that chart on t.v. a couple of days ago. Puts it all in perspective doesn't it.

   
   
   
   
10. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/5/2013 7:03 AM

    The only issue I have heard is even if it's cutting an increase, it is how it is cutting the budget, from defense and discretionary spending where most cuts have already occurred.
    
    They should be smarter in Washington then they are acting. Of course when it comes to the real hard work, on what to cut with that scalpel, everyone is going to be trying to protect their own.
    
    I have heard let's cut foreign aid, when is minuscule part of the overall budget, "help Americans first!" but then probably the same people are complaining about welfare and food stamps and the like.
    
    There is the cry of selling Egypt new jets and giving money, just because leadership there has changed. Who benefits from it? Our defense industry. I could go on and on from line item to line item and see someone fighting cuts to something.
    
    I know we could all probably get together and agree to stuff, but of course when congress worries more about getting re-elected, and getting primaries, not so much about losing to the other party they are worried about challenges from with-in and then with outside interests pumping money into local districts....this is the biggest problem with getting anything done. I don't care who is president, heck Regan himself couldn't get these people working together, (my opinion is Regan wouldn't even get elected now, he is too much in the center).
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
11. Sean Hoolehan

    

    0 posts
    
    3/5/2013 9:03 AM

    Melvin Waldron, CGCS"]T
    
    They should be smarter in Washington then they are acting. Of course when it comes to the real hard work, on what to cut with that scalpel, everyone is going to be trying to protect their own. Mel, the house has offered to give the president the complete power to decide where to cut the 2.3% but he refuses. He could cut from all conservatives favorite programs. Bottom line here is the president does not want to cut he wants to spend. Did you look at the pie chart. The point is this is a manufactured crisis and it belongs to the administration because the Sequester was their idea.
    
    I don't care who is president, heck Regan himself couldn't get these people working together, (my opinion is Regan wouldn't even get elected now, he is too much in the center). You are probably right Ronald Reagan was too conservative to get elected today.

    
    
    
    
12. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    3/5/2013 9:03 AM

    The choice and severity of specific cuts are purely political, designed to inflict the most pain in the most important places. What are the first things you hear on city, state or federal government so-called cuts. It is always police, fire and any other fully necessary service. It is pay back for daring to challenge the constant growth they demand. The government is still advertising open jobs while the are cutting back hours for key national security functions. Have any Cabinet level areas beyond Homeland Security been cut? You sure haven't heard about them! It is all phony and we the American people should quit falling for it an finally hold politicians accountable. The President is a highly partisan politician who only cares about his vision of a utopian society where everything is fair and equal. He is a divider rather than a unifying leader. Hr only knows how to campaign, not lead. The other puppets are in office for personal gain. They all need to be voted out repeatedly until we find intelligent, hard working, common sense leaders.

    
    
    
    
13. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/5/2013 12:03 PM

    Sean, while you place blame squarely on the president, and I haven't found what yet what you say the republicans have offered.... while I keep looking, below is a link that points to who is really to blame. Not to say the president and others are the problem as well. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc ... on/273587/
    
    I don't know which side The Atlantic or Molly Ball usually sides with.
    
    Also don't know if your Regan quote is tongue in check, but with his later stances on gun control, his raising taxes, I don't see how he is too conservative, I do get that the majority of voters on a whole vote for the ultra conservative candidates, the ones that usually wins primaries.
    
    
    My take on things, without the research, the president has offered to work with republicans, but anything he seems to approve of will not get republican support as they worry about getting re-elected.
    
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
14. Sandy Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    3/5/2013 6:03 PM

    Mel, the republicans have presented tons of bills with good options but they never get beyond Harry Reid. The press either immediately ridicules them or won't even cover them. Reid won't give any option a chance. A memo from some top person in Obama's White House has been found urging all agencies to make the results as painful as they warned. In other words, punish anyone and everyone who is not in the Presidents favor. Valerie Jarrod openly stated after the election that it would be hell to pay for anyone that crossed them or disagreed with them. What kind of group do we have running this country? Many of us tried to warn everyone that Obama wasn't right for America but the willing press and glamor appeal won out over leadership. Crap is just beginning to hit the fan. Wait until the middle class finally understands their living standard is plunging! Between new taxes he wants on everyone, gas costs and Obamacare, the middle class will drop to a lower standard of living. I fear his administration can nearly ruin the country over the next four years.

    
    
    
    
15. Clay Putnam

    

    33 posts
    
    3/5/2013 9:03 PM

    Melvin Waldron, CGCS"
    
    
    My take on things, without the research, the president has offered to work with republicans, but anything he seems to approve of will not get republican support as they worry about getting re-elected.
    
    
    Mel

    
    
    Come on now Mel. Obama refused to work with Boehner in 2011. Boehner all but collapsed to Obama's wishes then Obama got greedy, piled on more demands and Boehner finally had to walk away. The republicans have offered solutions and Obama flatly rejected them. As Sean said, the republicans offered the entire spending cut steering wheel to Obama and he dropped it like a hot potato. Obama has no interest in compromise.

    
    
    
    
16. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/6/2013 8:03 AM

    Still looking for the GOP bill you guys are talking about, I did come across this link which shows both sides are stupid.
    
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fac ... _blog.html
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
17. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    3/6/2013 9:03 AM

    Here is an interesting link, I think it shows some of the President's flaws, such as his communication style and substance to those on the Hill, but I don't know if any-one's communication style would work according to this article.
    
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/won ... publicans/
    
    So far what I have seen from the republicans on the sequester deal is they will leave the domestic cuts in place, will leave the amount of 7.5% defense cuts in place, but if I understood it, give the defense department more control of where to cut? And they will also increase spending to the state department for embassy protection and also for boarder control.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO