Clarification for Ms Pat

I understand the nation's debt has to be dealt with. Thanks for the email though
I understand Medicare has to be fixed
And Social Security too.
And Military spending and lots more...

I'm just tired of the ones that got us in this mess (the ultra conservatives via draconian tax cuts and spending) are now wailing and gnashing their teeth like it has to fixed right now and their way. The hypocrisy is irritating. Not saying you are a hypocrite ... but others surely are.

Some ideas I like

1-Medicare can get cuts in benefits (co pay) and must get the rising costs per patient under control too. Farming it out to insurance companies is an obvious dead end. It will end up being more costly, less coverage,  AND there is no way it will ever pass congress or the President OR  public opinion.

2- Means testing SS is going to be tough to do but "taxing" SS would be easy. A simple increase in tax based on income would be a piece of cake. Raising the retirement age "slowly" over time will save Billions. Slow is the key. People are going to need time to purchase their own additional privatized annuity to retire comfortably. Also raise the maximum income limit that cuts off SS contributions from $125k to $500k

2a- Simultaneously raise the SS retirement age to 66 and the Medicare age to 59. Do it slowly but do it together. MUST be done together.

3- Raising taxes on the rich will not bring enough to the Treasury to make a big difference. The "complete" cancellation of the bush Tax cuts would be a cure all IF the economy can take the hit. Going back to Clinton taxes. I don't think the economy can take it right now.

4- Military spending must be cut by 10% or more

5- Tax reform can work hand in hand with the Not-fully-vested Bush tax cuts. It produces a lot of revenue without raising income tax (directly). Put Grover Norquist to bed right now!!

6- keep the education reform teachers and spending on infrastructure for a later time. They must be fixed but later.

7- And leave the silly cuts in discretionary spending alone. It's making the GOP look stupid. A bridge to nowhere saves a discretionary $400 million. A 10% cut in military spending saves $50 billion (125 bridges to nowhere). And this does not even consider the wars which are funded out of budget! The military is not now using their budget in Iraq and Afghanistan. They get a credit card for that.

8- Stop listening to the media "tell" you what the figures are. Just go the US Govt Printing office online and download the exact figures. Look at them yourself. Let Xcell make the graphs you want.You have  a good brain, Pat. You can figure it all out and when the next MSNBC or FOX talking head quotes financial data you will know they are lying. And that is the key. Don't use the media for facts... and assume they lie every time.

As for Ann Coulter I just didn't like the term "treats" I'm not a damn kid and I hate being talked to like one.

stay amused

Ron