How would you fix the economy and budget issues?

[NC_Skins]

I was asked in another thread about "what would I do about taxes?" in another thread so I wanted to pose what would you do to fix the economy. How would you create jobs in America? What would you do with taxes on businesses (both small and corporate)? How would you fix out budget to where we had a surplus in our budget?

(a nice picture graph and detail of the budget)
WallStats - Death and Taxes & Taxes

[mlmpetert]

Raise taxes on the rich and on businesses and give everyone else a fiscal stimulus so they can turn the economy around and buy stuff from profit seeking corporations. Extended un-employment benefits beyond 99 weeks . Provide healthcare to all and lower costs. Extend Medicare and ss benefits. Enforce Cap and Trade on all businesses. Lower eligibility requirements so that more people can receive refundable tax credits (ie earned income credit, making work pay credit, home buyer credit, American opportunity credit) and other social aid. Do something about this “monetary policy” I keep hearing about.

[redsk1]

It's funny how everyone seems to blame Bush or blame Obama, but when posed the question, it's not so easy. I don't pretend to know. I know that we are going to have to let this real estate problem play out over time. I know that we are going to have to solve or at least improve our reliance on foreign oil. I know that we are going to have to lower our high unemployment rate.

So, I really didn't give an answer.

[Schneed10]

- If not completely privatize social security, at least authorize the fund to broaden its investments to include a portion of equities and corporate bonds.

- Increase the retirement age significantly, to 72 - 75 or so. Apply this to both social security and Medicare.

- Instead of funding unemployment for up to 99 weeks, give people the option of either staying on unemployment either for 6 months and end it, or 1 year with subsidies for retraining or education (but you have to make the grade or you're out). So you either head back to school and sharpen up, or you sink/swim after 6 months.

- Scale back on air defense spending. Our strategic advantage via air superiority can still be maintained even if we go a little less star wars.

- Institute laws aimed at restricting the growth in cost of higher education. There's no reason colleges need to build giant mock stock trading floors in these state of the art business schools and then turn around and charge $48,000 a year. In the end, kids these days are having to pay for unnecessary bells and whistles. Make college education more affordable by restricting their ability to spend and build.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Here you go, piece of cake.

http://www.thewarpath.net/debating-w...tml#post758491

[dmek25]

increase the retirement age? your joking, right?

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Here you go, piece of cake.

http://www.thewarpath.net/debating-w...tml#post758491

How about the economy? Jobs? Inflation? Taxes?


I'll comment on what I would do tomorrow when I have more time. I'll comment on the other suggestions about the budget too.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

How about the economy? Jobs? Inflation? Taxes?


I'll comment on what I would do tomorrow when I have more time. I'll comment on the other suggestions about the budget too.

You get the defecit and National Debt under control and you immediately will increase consumer confidence and increase $$$ flowing in the economy....which creates jobs.

As to taxes, I support the FairTax system. Under FairTax their are no corporate taxes, so overseas corps will look to locate in the U.S. Also, U.S. corps can make decisions based on what's best for business, not what tax ramifications a decision would have. This will also prevent some job losses overseas.

End most drilling restrictions that have been put in place under the Obama Admin. This will also give the economy another boost in 9-18 months and help consumer and corporate confidence in the short term (it wouldn't hurt Obama's re-election chances either as lower gas prices and a recovering economy would help him in 2012).

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by dmek25

increase the retirement age? your joking, right?

Why would I be?

When Medicare and Social Security were put into place, the retirement age was set at 65, but people only lived to their early 70s on average.

Now that most are living into their late 70s (and many into their 80s), we're asking the system to support people for many more years than it was originally designed to.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by dmek25

increase the retirement age? your joking, right?

If the system is going to stay solvent, it's either that or massive tax increase on everyone.

[dmek25]

messing with the retirement age would be political suicide for anyone

[saden1]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

If the system is going to stay solvent, it's either that or massive tax increase on everyone.

I am sure we can work with a modest increase. Same tax level as Clinton/Reagan years will do just fine.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by saden1

I am sure we can work with a modest increase. Same tax level as Clinton/Reagan years will do just fine.

Not a fan of an increase, but I agree after the economy gets on more steady footing, it has to be on the table to get our finances straightened out.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

Here you go, piece of cake.

http://www.thewarpath.net/debating-w...tml#post758491

I find your budget cuts interesting to say the least. You want to basically destroy Social Security and Health Care and raise it to a level (70) that most people will probably never see.

Why reduce federal employee pay? You do realize that most federal employees are middle class right? That will do wonders for the economy.

Let me get this straight, you don't want to reduce spending on making more ships or weapon programs, but you want to screw the veterans over on their health care plans?...lol REALLY??? Do you own stock in Lockheed Martin? It would appear so.

I assume you didn't mark anything in the "taxes" section because of your "Fair Tax" stance.

You are a true republican to the hilt.

Originally Posted by Slingin Sammy 33

If the system is going to stay solvent, it's either that or massive tax increase on everyone.

...or you know....cut military spending?

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Why would I be?

When Medicare and Social Security were put into place, the retirement age was set at 65, but people only lived to their early 70s on average.

People have been paying into SS their whole working life, and now you want to reduce that to a mere couple of years? Wow. Advice, never run for office and use that as your platform. Even the Repubs would laugh you out.

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

I find your budget cuts interesting to say the least. You want to basically destroy Social Security and Health Care and raise it to a level (70) that most people will probably never see.

Why reduce federal employee pay? You do realize that most federal employees are middle class right? That will do wonders for the economy.

Let me get this straight, you don't want to reduce spending on making more ships or weapon programs, but you want to screw the veterans over on their health care plans?...lol REALLY??? Do you own stock in Lockheed Martin? It would appear so.

I assume you didn't mark anything in the "taxes" section because of your "Fair Tax" stance.

You are a true republican to the hilt.




...or you know....cut military spending?




People have been paying into SS their whole working life, and now you want to reduce that to a mere couple of years? Wow. Advice, never run for office and use that as your platform. Even the Repubs would laugh you out.

You do know that Obam has talked about raising the retirement age?