Another propaganda tidbit from today’s paper…
Not only do we have the richest society in human history, we also have the most advanced technology and enjoy the fruits of what remains of the labor of the 125 billion people who came before us on this earth. In other words, there is no reason for us to spend wealth saved from the past or borrow wealth from future generations. Total US government spending will approach $7 trillion in 2017 of a roughly $19 trillion gross domestic product. Our governments absorb, confiscate, redistribute, spend, squander, burn, etc., nearly 37% of all that is produced in this country. Yet Republicans can’t seem to figure out how to stop the bleeding and now that their false promises are being exposed, they’ll be left holding the bag. My guess – they let the squirrel go and before long return to their preferred no-accountability status as the minority party. #LoseOnPurpose
Congressional Republicans Face Ideological Rifts Over Spending Bills
To avoid government shutdown, GOP needs support from Democrats and from within the party; ‘no real simple solution’
…Some lawmakers say that with Republicans now in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, there is less reason to look at easing the spending limits, as lawmakers did under previous deals because of a more divided political environment.
This reminds me of Monica’s First Law of Democracy, or the Contrary Law of Democracy: whatever party you voted in will do the opposite of what they stand for because the real reason they are there is to keep you quiet!
“My concerns with the past years is that, in a bipartisan fashion, we’re kicking the can down the road and adding to the debt,” said Rep. Dave Brat (R., Va.) “When you win the House and the Senate and the White House and you’re the small-government party…if we do more status quo, the same old thing after winning, we’re going to lose our brand in rapid order.”
They are much better being the minority party who can sell their votes to the highest bidders just like everyone else while convincing small government constituents that someone is in DC fighting the good fight in order to make sure no one actually does!
Still, Democrats do retain some leverage in the complex process. A budget resolution can pass both chambers with just a simple majority, as well as certain legislation tied to it. That is the process Republicans hope to use to pass partisan overhauls of the health-care system and tax code. But the spending bills that actually fund the government require 60 votes in the Senate and the Republicans hold only 52 of the chamber’s 100 seats….
Trump is working hard to reduce this to a simple majority, which would undermine a fundamental distinction between European and American-style government: minority power. Undermining minority power will come back to bite the GOP (not that they care) if in fact they are destined to return to their natural position as the also-rans. #WTWOF
Republicans “ought to take an honest look at where we are in some areas,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D., Ill.). Under the current limits, some government programs “are likely to be cut to unacceptable levels,” he said.
Some Republicans, especially those focused on the military, have been among the most vocal champions of raising spending above the current limits, which they say have impinged on the country’s military readiness.
So the welfare-warfare superstructure marches on and debt continues to explode. Permit me please to pose this simple question: If our obscenely wealthy society can’t make ends meet, what society do we have the audacity to burden with an imperative for surplus? Hint: They’ll be running in from school in just a minute. #TaxationIsTheft #GovernmentDebtIsTaxationWithoutRepresentation