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Despite the overwhelming transpartisan popularity of both Social Security and Medicare with the American public, deficit fetishists in both parties are wagging their fingers and demanding that both must go under the knife or the economy will collapse. But there’s no corresponding debate about the high cost of the unpopular wars we keep waging. Apparently our elected leaders believe wars are free.
The public seems to understand, however, that wars cost money. Moreover, more Americans say that the cost of war has contributed a “great deal” to the deficit (60%), as opposed to those who say the same about domestic spending (24%) in a recent Pew poll.
Maybe all those swell economists Pete Peterson keeps paying can explain it to them?
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That’s a hopeful signe. In addition that same poll shows that despite all the hysteria of the last 6 months on the wrong, concern for the deficit has risen only a measly 4%, 24 to 28.
Just more lies and spin from the people who aren’t happy being billionaires. I hope the American public is watching and will vote these scumsuckers out of office. I loathe these people and hope to see their demise in my lifetime. Maybe if they saw the results of their greed from the other side …..yea right.
Great quick hitter Jane! We all know George Bush thought war was free … and apparently is was for him. Moreover, it was a profit making venture for W and his Halliburton buddies. The rest of us … well we’re paying for it alright.
For more on Right Wing Lunacy …
http://waronignorance.net/index.html
Politics with a Punch
As they should, you can’t run deficits and surpluses at the same time. Let’s be clear, Medicare and Social Security having been running surpluses for some time now. In the future this may not be true, however, the fact you may not be able to pay tomorrows bills, as nothing to do with why you can’t pay today’s bills.
The U.S. media obsesses over twitter photos while denying its basic duty to inform the public. The American public has become the most mis-informed group of people on the planet. All this talk about austerity, budget cuts, and deficit reduction is the actual payment and true price of the bailouts given to the multi-national conglomerate banks and other corporations. All this talk about the need to “tighten our belts” comes directly from the continued existence of the Bush tax cuts and 3 wars. Until the media actually start slamming politicians on these points continuously, ineffectual leadership will be our continued reward and the corporations will continue to grind the very lives of people into dust.
Wars not only cost money, they cost lives, and affect many lives. Obama has shown that he is no better than the rest of the war happy establishment. In fact, he is worse because he got elected by promising to end stupid wars. All of our current wars are in fact stupid at this point. As we will also be if we re-elect Obama. He has chosen the wrong people to advise him on almost everything. If Obama wins re-election, it will signal the Democratic party that it is OK to betray those who voted for you and our political degeneration will continue unabated.
As the impoverishment of working Americans continues, war spending will become less and less popular. The government response? People who complain will be shot.
Behold the Magnificent Mindless ‘Merican Murder Machine that consumes over 50% of the budget with associated costs counted (energy dept, CIA, DHS, interest on past war debt,veterans affairs) and 1/2 the oil we consume every day is squandered by the Military. The gallon of gas you put in your tank is two, one for you one you brought for the military
Boy, do I feel safe/s
I’m probably whistling dixie here. I’d love for a couple of salty reps (Tammy Baldwin, Ron Paul….) to pull a Stupak on the debt ceiling vote. Tie a “yes” vote on it to all troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Pit the military industrial complex against Wall Street. Let’s see who wins.
Once again despite all the lies and BS from Peterson and others about SS, Medicare and Medicaid the American people know better…here is something that I have noticed from the Media about the Tea Party and the GOP that really bothers me; the media keeps saying the GOP is being pulled to the right by the Tea Party on SS and Medicare/Medcaid cuts..yet the polls show the Tea Party crowd does not suppirt these cuts….were is the disconnect from the media? Why does the media keep saying this stuff? I think most “normal” (non corporate) Tea Party types know something is wrong but don’t know who to trust….sounds a little like us! :)
We don’t have a functioning democracy. There are elites and there are subjects.
I agree. We comment on the bozo’s that are running this country but I have always put the blame on the American People who do not inquire and stay informed on whats happening to us. I try to talk to the people I work with but if I don’t get my point across with about 12 words, I lose their attention. People are living in their own little worlds and do not concern themselves with anything else unless they run into some trouble that affects them personally.
This despite the concerted efforts of the propagandists at NPR, CNN, FOX, etc. Wow. The silly lies we are all steeped in should have been more thoroughly absorbed, by my estimates. This is great news for humanity!~
Obama will pay attention to polls and fight for Social Security and Medicare with the same courage and tenacity with which he fought for the popular in the polls public option and free-market drug prices. He will support Social Security and Medicare every bit as much as he supported reform of the Patriot Act and the filibusterer of retroactive immunity for illegal spying on Americans. He will defy Republicans the same way he defied them on extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and closing Gitmo. The best prediction of future behavior is past behavior–-so for a progressive future decision, or just for any not approved by the rich and corporate future decision, should we not be just getting ready for another of Obama’s infamous “smile, laugh, shrug it off, then the speech on how he cares as he does the opposite” routines, as he throws the progressives under the bus again?
How can we doubt him as to his future actions?
Great Punch toward the White House Jane!
The MORONS in the White House have less brain power than Sarah Palin.
One could argue and win, saying Democrats on average are a lot smarter than GOPers.
the Obama/Bush Tax Cuts made the debt grow
the Obama/Bush wars are making the debt grow
the OBAMA/Bush bail outs of wall street made the debt grow
Yes? Obama like Bush cuts taxes during War Time? still think Obama is smarter than Bush? LOL
Way late to this but I’m West Coast so…it IS disturbing though that over 60 per cent of those polled indicate that the tax cuts over the past 10 years are regarded as either “not much” or “fair amount” when it comes to the misnamed ‘debt’.
Little wonder since a brief look at history will tell us that our forefathers saw war as a disease while militant moderns have a Chinese philosophy about the matter.
So the same public that sensibly thinks by 60% that the wars contribute a great deal to the deficit, only thinks by 19% the same way about the Bush tax cuts (and Obama extensions)? Not that public sentiment matters anyway.
I’m sorry. But the Obama Administration sucks big floppy donkey d**k for quarters.
War-mongering, torturing f**k that he is, this won’t even phase him. Until election time rolls around. THEN we’ll here more about the rule of law that he has blatantly and openly refused to follow. He can make all the excuses he wants. It means NOTHING in the face of the laws and treaties we’ve obligated ourselves to.
Once upon a time, I would have jumped a gun and taken a bullet for him, if I saw one come up at one of his rallies, just on the off chance that change might actually occur. Now, (assuming I’d even show up) I’d likely just make sure me and mine were out of harm’s way while he get’s drilled.
Like it or lump it, but he’s simply no longer worth my time. Assuming he ever was.
When will compassion finally quide our hands and the energy now put toward destruction harnessed by a higher purpose such as ending human suffering ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL4QARsT-4c&feature=related
http://costofwar.com/en/