Can We Stop Being Petulant Children

[Major Robert Dump]

Whatever happened to the good ole days where we razed a country and then rebuilt it with someone elses money, like the international community or said countries resources itself?

Now we pay for everything. Everything, everything, everything. Here ya go Haiti. Here ya go Mexico. Here ya go Pakistan. Here ya go country that hates us.

[rory_20_uk]

That is half the narrative.

You also destabilise Mexico due to the insane "war on drugs" and loose gun policies - creating both the reason and the means for slaughter.
Pakistan you help support a Military dictatorship with a democratic façade whilst destabilising it at the same time with illegal drone attacks and extra-judicial assassinations.
Afghanistan is again supporting a puppet dictator who fixes elections and tries to embezzle as much money as he can before the clock runs out.
Haiti? Well, that was pocket change in the greater scheme of things.
Billions to Egypt under the old regime.
Saying Israel hate America is probably a bit strong, but they sure don't let anything get in the way of their objectives, and that is more billions flowing out.

And technically most of the time you're spending China's money as they are bankrolling the Dollar at the moment.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Tax rises are an interesting conundrum, yes you need to raise taxes, but which ones?

Raising income tax just upsets people, and while it is a reliable source of revenue it depresses growth because you are taking someone's money before they spend it (this is why revenue goes up when upper-rate taxes fall), loath as we are to admit it the rich pay for the rest of us. At the top end the very rich are taxed huge amounts on their earnings that they might otherwise spend on cars, boats, maids.... actually economic activity that provides jobs for others who also pay tax.

At the same time, low interest rates and taxes on stock and savings encorage people to spend on credit rather than saving or investing.

Then you have a stupidly expensive heathcare system. Here's a tip America, if your taxes are paying for that doctor you shouldn't have to pay again for his services - he isn't worth that much. Then add in pet military projects, foriegn wars, special interest groups and the polarisation of American politics and the problems are fairly obvious.

Unfortunately, the fixes aren't.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I think the Simpson-Bowles presented a good framework, including deep spending cuts and some tax increases. But the GOP will not entertain tax increases, and Obama is trying to take only the tax increases from Simpson-Bowles (a generalization, but you get the point).

CR

[Major Robert Dump]

Oh look, someone who wants to cut spending and raise taxes (and by raise taxes I mean cut deductions and loopholes, which really sin't raising taxes per se, but thats what opponents will call it.)

http://www.newsok.com/sen.-tom-cobur...ad_story_title

For example, other than the fact that its convenient to Americans, theres really no reason to be able to deuct mortgage interest from taxable income. He wants to eliminate that. The argument that this deduction stimulates home purchases and encourages home ownership is outright unproven and false, and I think recent events will show us that perhaps the government whould not be in the business of encouraging home ownership through massive entitlements and deductions because, well, then we get a housing bubble yay.