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A weak defense, handouts of our money to the rest of the world, social experimentation in the guise of "helping" all sound like very straightforward leftist policy to me.  I'm well aware that when the left talks about fiscal restraint they are referring to how much I have to spend, and decentralized education means unfunded mandates to turn the ___'s into good little communist sheep.

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How is that funny Clouds? A weak defense, handouts of our money to the rest of the world, social experimentation in the guise of "helping" all sound like very straightforward leftist policy to me. I'm well aware that when the left talks about fiscal restraint they are referring to how much I have to spend, and decentralized education means unfunded mandates to turn the ___'s into good little communist sheep.


I gotta tell you, Clouds, when it comes to waltzing in and announcing a new set of social boundaries, you remind me a hell of a lot of the very religious types you so love to demonize.

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ORIGINAL: cloudboy

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How is that funny Clouds? A weak defense, handouts of our money to the rest of the world, social experimentation in the guise of "helping" all sound like very straightforward leftist policy to me. I'm well aware that when the left talks about fiscal restraint they are referring to how much I have to spend, and decentralized education means unfunded mandates to turn the ___'s into good little communist sheep.


I gotta tell you, Clouds, when it comes to waltzing in and announcing a new set of social boundaries, you remind me a hell of a lot of the very religious types you so love to demonize.

Fiscal restraint has nothing to do with "how much you have to spend," it has to do with tying expenditures with revenues. If you look at the STATS, Democrats are 2-3 x better at this than Republicans where the federal budget is concerned.

The US will never have a "weak defense." Currently we spend 2x the rest of the world combined and 10x more than our nearest rival, China. Spending that kind of money for "defense" is a misnomer, rather its spending for "offense." Its also weakening our economy, placing a lot of power in the hands of the Chinese, our debt holder, and leading us towards being a banana republic. Its also fucking future generations.

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ORIGINAL: cloudboy

Fiscal restraint has nothing to do with "how much you have to spend," it has to do with tying expenditures with revenues.

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progressive a code word for again?

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ORIGINAL: cloudboy

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progressive a code word for again?

That's a good question. Picking "progressives" for federal agencies would mean selecting only a top professional in the field endeavor. In other words the head of a government agency would be chosen because of how he distinguished himself in his field. The head man would not be chosen because he was politically aligned with "party" or "business" interests.

Then the information coming from that agency would set larger policies --- as opposed to political wonks telling the agencies what's what.

Another term might be "experts."

Their charge would be to serve the public interest, not the political interests of the party in power.

As for your other question, "we" is the USA.

Its only a matter of time until the US cuts its federal budget. The level of spending we are engaged in is unsustainable.

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As for facts an figures of who runs a tighter budget, just look at the Congressional Budget Office figures and look at the numbers. Republican Presidents since 1980 have run nothing but explosive deficits -- and not a one cut spending in any meaningful sense.

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ORIGINAL: Thadius

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ORIGINAL: cloudboy

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Fiscal restraint has nothing to do with "how much you have to spend," it has to do with tying expenditures with revenues. If you look at the STATS, Democrats are 2-3 x better at this than Republicans where the federal budget is concerned.

I would love to see those stats, please present them if they are available.

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ORIGINAL: kdsub

Thadius Are we looking at the same graph...lol..OK here is the bottom line...dumb arsed Republican administrations... I WILL NOT RAISE TAXES...then start wars...It is nice politically to not raise taxes but you can't pay debts without taxes. Either we will have to pay for our follies...or your and my Grandchildren will... I don't want my grand kids to be burdened with 1000's and 1000's of dollars just because someone wants to be elected ...and the only way to do it is not raise taxes and borrow from China.

Nope we are responsible adults... not dumb lead me by the nose republican flunkies... lets pay our bills and not pretend everything is ok if we don't raise taxes.

Butch

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ORIGINAL: fearghus

Yes!  Both strong emotions that politics uses against the people as a form of control.

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ORIGINAL: kdsub

Get your facts straight....remember it was only one Clinton administration under the republicans... it started under the democrats and continued under a republican congress... but without war...  Bush should have raised taxes to pay for his war... or not fought it.

Butch

How can you blame a  Democratic congress when Reagan...whom I voted for..., had the veto power and led legislation in congress...And went nuts deficient spending for star wars.