http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=acQoZ36ss8pU “The United States faces a fundamental disconnect between the services that people expect the government to provide, particularly in the form of benefits for older Americans, and the tax revenues that people are willing to send to the government to finance those services,” Douglas Elmendorf, director of the non-partisan... [more]
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=acQoZ36ss8pU
“The United States faces a fundamental disconnect between the services that people expect the government to provide, particularly in the form of benefits for older Americans, and the tax revenues that people are willing to send to the government to finance those services,” Douglas Elmendorf, director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, writes in a May 17 blog post.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++_
Devout Keynesians will have none of it. They’re concerned the government is doing too little. The U.S. isn’t borrowing and spending enough, they say, as if today’s spending is a free lunch or a free ticket to prosperity.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The New York Times is publishing a series of such stories under the rubric, “The New Poor.” Last week’s installment focused on a 22-year-old unemployed single mom from Arizona who qualified for state-run subsidized child care but was placed on a waiting list because budgetary constraints forced cutbacks in the program.
We feel for this mom whose work options are limited by the need to care for her 3-year-old daughter. We all know someone who has been left jobless, financially strapped and emotionally bereft by the recession. Yet, at the risk of sounding hard- hearted, the U.S. can’t afford to provide everyone with food, clothing and shelter, not to mention medical and child care, college tuition, a low-interest mortgage and a Social Security check until death.
As much as this single mom’s plight tugs at our heart strings, using deficit financing to provide her with government subsidized child care is dangerous to her child’s health. That child will have to shoulder the bill. That’s the pain we don’t feel or hear about; the pain that doesn’t make its way into news stories, at least not in human terms; the pain that’s no less real, just less pressing.
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Response by somewhereelse
over 15 years ago
Posts: 7435
Member since: Oct 2009
"Walking through the Tulirisi-Park in Paris, an Israeli tourist sees a 5 year old girl atacked by her Rotvelier. The Israeli (being a reservist navy seal) jumps at the dog, kills it and saves the little girl. The blodied but still alive girl is driven out in an Ambulance and t...he journalists gather around the guy.- Please state your name, and tomorow the entire world will know how a couragious Parisian saved a little girl.- I am not from Paris- Never mind, tomorow the world will know how a coragious Franchman saved a little girl's life.- I am not from France.- Oh that's ok, then tomorow the Entire world will know how a couragious European saved a little girl's life.- I am not a European.- Ok, so where are you from?- Israel.an akward silence among the journalists followed by a comment from one of them saying:- Ok, so tomorow the entire world will know how an Israeli killed the poor dog of a 5 year old girl!!! "
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Response by Riversider
over 15 years ago
Posts: 13572
Member since: Apr 2009
btw, is anybody finding the "protect BP and our pensions" arguments a little ironic?
Not at all. If BP has the funds to do both, why is Obama pushing the issue?
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Response by aboutready
over 15 years ago
Posts: 16354
Member since: Oct 2007
truthiness, very funny. I am particularly guilty of a couple of the stereotypes.
ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders have tentatively agreed to allow the state and municipalities to borrow nearly $6 billion to help them make their required annual payments to the state pension fund.
And, in classic budgetary sleight-of-hand, they will borrow the money to make the payments to the pension fund — from the same pension fund.
As word of the plan spread, some denounced it as a shell game and a blatant effort by state leaders to avoid making difficult decisions, like cutting government spending or reducing pension benefits.
“It’s a classic Albany example of kicking the can down the road,” said Harry Wilson, the Republican candidate for comptroller, who holds an M.B.A. from Harvard.
Pension costs for the state and municipalities are soaring, a result of enhanced retirement benefits for public employees and the decline in the stock market over the past two years. And, given declines in tax revenue and larger budget shortfalls, the governments are struggling to come up with the money to make the contributions.
Under the plan, the state and municipalities would borrow the money to reduce their pension contributions for the next three years, in exchange for higher payments over the following decade. They would begin repaying what they borrowed, with interest, in 2013.
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Response by LICComment
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3610
Member since: Dec 2007
These politicians and unions have no shame.
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Response by Dogismy
over 15 years ago
Posts: 113
Member since: Apr 2010
Shameless just like bp, wall street, and netanyahu. ---- speaking of wanting it all without paying for it. Big time. And the little u.s. taxpayer pays and pays. See the title of the thread. It speaks of pb, wall street, netanyahu ----- shameless opportunists of the first water.
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Response by Sunday
over 15 years ago
Posts: 1607
Member since: Sep 2009
What are you going to do about it?
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Response by Salut
over 15 years ago
Posts: 132
Member since: May 2010
Dogismy, it's all the Jews! The Jews, I tell ya! Always them Jews!!!
The world is tired of these troublesome Jews, 6 million -- that number again -- hard by the Mediterranean, refusing every invitation to national suicide. For which they are relentlessly demonized, ghettoized and constrained from defending themselves, even as the more committed anti-Zionists -- Iranian in particular -- openly prepare a more final solution.
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Response by Dogismy
over 15 years ago
Posts: 113
Member since: Apr 2010
Netanyahu is one creepy politician. I note that some folks are pretty darn quick to play the anti-semitism card. Doesn't work, folks. Netanyahu is NOT doing Israel any favors ........
And who created the whole Iranian debacle? Uhhhhhhhhh ---- same folks who quietly ignored the Holocaust for many a moon --- that'd be ... the good ol' US of A.
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Response by Riversider
over 15 years ago
Posts: 13572
Member since: Apr 2009
I can't tell what dog boy i ssaying
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Response by Salut
over 15 years ago
Posts: 132
Member since: May 2010
Dogismy, any other leader bothers you as much? Say, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan? No? I thought so.
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Response by se10024
over 15 years ago
Posts: 314
Member since: Apr 2009
Dog, take the meds please
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Response by LICComment
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3610
Member since: Dec 2007
dog- typical liberal- twisted logic and factually challenged.
Illinois’ unwillingness to tackle its budget woes prompted Fitch on Friday to become the second agency in a week to downgrade the cash-strapped state, which is likely to push up the state’s borrowing costs as it prepares to issue new debt.
Fitch lowered the rating on Illinois’ general obligation bonds from “A+” to “A” and assigned them a negative outlook, signalling it could downgrade the state further. The move came a week after Moody’s moved the state’s general obligation rating to A1 from Aa3. Standard & Poor’s rates Illinois “A+”.
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Response by Riversider
over 15 years ago
Posts: 13572
Member since: Apr 2009
Is it cynical to think he's doing this for Illinois?
President Obama urged reluctant lawmakers Saturday to quickly approve nearly $50 billion in emergency aid to state and local governments, saying the money is needed to avoid "massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters" and to support the still-fragile economic recovery.
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Response by somewhereelse
over 15 years ago
Posts: 7435
Member since: Oct 2009
> I note that some folks are pretty darn quick to play the anti-semitism card.
Some folks are just pretty darn quick to be anti-semites.
> Doesn't work, folks.
Agreed. Anti-semitism has always been tolerated.
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Response by LICComment
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3610
Member since: Dec 2007
rs, do you know what else could avoid "massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters"?- Pay freezes and pension reform.
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Response by Riversider
over 15 years ago
Posts: 13572
Member since: Apr 2009
Obama is preparing a 50,000,000 stimulus package. Why should the states and the unions agree to anything?
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Response by Riversider
over 15 years ago
Posts: 13572
Member since: Apr 2009
that's 50 billion
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Response by rogerst
over 15 years ago
Posts: 49
Member since: Dec 2009
This issue is coming back to the forefront. We need to cut taxes, cut the money going to the government, limit our appetite for waste, fraud, tax leakage to illegals, wasted money on wars and foreign presence. Cutting taxes if the first step and actually reading the 14th amendment is the second.
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Response by notadmin
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3835
Member since: Jul 2008
Here's a very easy to implement idea...
Every elderly that complains that:
* the youth is entitled
* there's too much welfare
* nobody that's not middle class should have kids
gets to stop receiving his/her entitlements. That's a very fast and effective way to reduce the deficits coming from SS and Medicare!!! It should also be applied to those receiving pensions.
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Response by notadmin
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3835
Member since: Jul 2008
It's called the "Cause you love tough love and be on your own" or alternatively "Old fart, behave or pay your own bills".
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Response by rogerst
over 15 years ago
Posts: 49
Member since: Dec 2009
If it is paid for, they should receive it. If it is based on future generations covering them, that's different.
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Response by notadmin
over 15 years ago
Posts: 3835
Member since: Jul 2008
exactly, "If it is based on future generations covering them, that's different."
that's the case with SS, Medicare and public pensions. So tell the elderly to go and ask teh $ to those that were making that promise. Let the young free from their dream turned nightmare.
BTW who in their right mind believes a promise made by somebody OTHER than the person that has to deliver it? So go elderly and ask those that MADE that promise to deliver. The young weren't even born back then, so off their backs!
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Response by somewhereelse
about 15 years ago
Posts: 7435
Member since: Oct 2009
just found this one...
NYers pay outsized share of public pensions
- Taxpayers here pick up 88% of state and local government workers' pension tabs, versus a 67% share nationwide. A testament to union power, say budget experts.
:: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20101020/FREE/101029981
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Response by The_President
about 15 years ago
Posts: 2412
Member since: Jun 2009
So excited to post another union bashing article that you had to dig up a 10 week old thread?
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Response by bgrfrank
about 15 years ago
Posts: 183
Member since: Apr 2010
Yes that is why in New York City our percentage paid of subway and public transportation costs are higher than others in the country. They all do their share of waste and inefficiency but we have the worst union labor and pension costs unfortunately.
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Response by The_President
about 15 years ago
Posts: 2412
Member since: Jun 2009
THat is a dub statement bgrfrank. Did you ever consdier the fact that our subway costs more than others in the rest of the country since it is the biggest and runs 24/7?
And MTA workers are not that well paid. For bus driver pay, NYC does not even rank in the top 3:
We have the most people here in NYC so of course it is the biggest. If the unions didn't have the work rules because they want to hire the most of their buddies instead of being efficient for the riders, then maybe we could have simpathy for their wages and pensions that are strangling.
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Response by The_President
about 15 years ago
Posts: 2412
Member since: Jun 2009
How do the unions hire their "buddies"? You can't do that in a civil service system.
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Response by SkinnyNsweet
about 15 years ago
Posts: 408
Member since: Jun 2006
One wonders why all these people complaining did not join the MTA if the pay is so phat. Their complaints just sound like sour grapes to me. Kind of sounds like they didn't do well in their chosen profession, so they take it out on others.
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Response by The_President
about 15 years ago
Posts: 2412
Member since: Jun 2009
If anyone wants to complain about the MTA, they should complain that it is segregated. All the whites get put in the high paying Metro North/ LIRR while all the minorities are in the lower paying subway.
'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
"Walking through the Tulirisi-Park in Paris, an Israeli tourist sees a 5 year old girl atacked by her Rotvelier. The Israeli (being a reservist navy seal) jumps at the dog, kills it and saves the little girl. The blodied but still alive girl is driven out in an Ambulance and t...he journalists gather around the guy.- Please state your name, and tomorow the entire world will know how a couragious Parisian saved a little girl.- I am not from Paris- Never mind, tomorow the world will know how a coragious Franchman saved a little girl's life.- I am not from France.- Oh that's ok, then tomorow the Entire world will know how a couragious European saved a little girl's life.- I am not a European.- Ok, so where are you from?- Israel.an akward silence among the journalists followed by a comment from one of them saying:- Ok, so tomorow the entire world will know how an Israeli killed the poor dog of a 5 year old girl!!! "
btw, is anybody finding the "protect BP and our pensions" arguments a little ironic?
Not at all. If BP has the funds to do both, why is Obama pushing the issue?
truthiness, very funny. I am particularly guilty of a couple of the stereotypes.
NY PROVES IT CAN PAY FOR IT ALL.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/12/nyregion/12pension.html?hp
ALBANY — Gov. David A. Paterson and legislative leaders have tentatively agreed to allow the state and municipalities to borrow nearly $6 billion to help them make their required annual payments to the state pension fund.
And, in classic budgetary sleight-of-hand, they will borrow the money to make the payments to the pension fund — from the same pension fund.
As word of the plan spread, some denounced it as a shell game and a blatant effort by state leaders to avoid making difficult decisions, like cutting government spending or reducing pension benefits.
“It’s a classic Albany example of kicking the can down the road,” said Harry Wilson, the Republican candidate for comptroller, who holds an M.B.A. from Harvard.
Pension costs for the state and municipalities are soaring, a result of enhanced retirement benefits for public employees and the decline in the stock market over the past two years. And, given declines in tax revenue and larger budget shortfalls, the governments are struggling to come up with the money to make the contributions.
Under the plan, the state and municipalities would borrow the money to reduce their pension contributions for the next three years, in exchange for higher payments over the following decade. They would begin repaying what they borrowed, with interest, in 2013.
These politicians and unions have no shame.
Shameless just like bp, wall street, and netanyahu. ---- speaking of wanting it all without paying for it. Big time. And the little u.s. taxpayer pays and pays. See the title of the thread. It speaks of pb, wall street, netanyahu ----- shameless opportunists of the first water.
What are you going to do about it?
Dogismy, it's all the Jews! The Jews, I tell ya! Always them Jews!!!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060304287.html
The world is tired of these troublesome Jews, 6 million -- that number again -- hard by the Mediterranean, refusing every invitation to national suicide. For which they are relentlessly demonized, ghettoized and constrained from defending themselves, even as the more committed anti-Zionists -- Iranian in particular -- openly prepare a more final solution.
Netanyahu is one creepy politician. I note that some folks are pretty darn quick to play the anti-semitism card. Doesn't work, folks. Netanyahu is NOT doing Israel any favors ........
And who created the whole Iranian debacle? Uhhhhhhhhh ---- same folks who quietly ignored the Holocaust for many a moon --- that'd be ... the good ol' US of A.
I can't tell what dog boy i ssaying
Dogismy, any other leader bothers you as much? Say, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan? No? I thought so.
Dog, take the meds please
dog- typical liberal- twisted logic and factually challenged.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b6f27f66-75ab-11df-86c4-00144feabdc0.html
Illinois’ unwillingness to tackle its budget woes prompted Fitch on Friday to become the second agency in a week to downgrade the cash-strapped state, which is likely to push up the state’s borrowing costs as it prepares to issue new debt.
Fitch lowered the rating on Illinois’ general obligation bonds from “A+” to “A” and assigned them a negative outlook, signalling it could downgrade the state further. The move came a week after Moody’s moved the state’s general obligation rating to A1 from Aa3. Standard & Poor’s rates Illinois “A+”.
Is it cynical to think he's doing this for Illinois?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/12/AR2010061204152.html
President Obama urged reluctant lawmakers Saturday to quickly approve nearly $50 billion in emergency aid to state and local governments, saying the money is needed to avoid "massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters" and to support the still-fragile economic recovery.
> I note that some folks are pretty darn quick to play the anti-semitism card.
Some folks are just pretty darn quick to be anti-semites.
> Doesn't work, folks.
Agreed. Anti-semitism has always been tolerated.
rs, do you know what else could avoid "massive layoffs of teachers, police and firefighters"?- Pay freezes and pension reform.
Obama is preparing a 50,000,000 stimulus package. Why should the states and the unions agree to anything?
that's 50 billion
This issue is coming back to the forefront. We need to cut taxes, cut the money going to the government, limit our appetite for waste, fraud, tax leakage to illegals, wasted money on wars and foreign presence. Cutting taxes if the first step and actually reading the 14th amendment is the second.
Here's a very easy to implement idea...
Every elderly that complains that:
* the youth is entitled
* there's too much welfare
* nobody that's not middle class should have kids
gets to stop receiving his/her entitlements. That's a very fast and effective way to reduce the deficits coming from SS and Medicare!!! It should also be applied to those receiving pensions.
It's called the "Cause you love tough love and be on your own" or alternatively "Old fart, behave or pay your own bills".
If it is paid for, they should receive it. If it is based on future generations covering them, that's different.
exactly, "If it is based on future generations covering them, that's different."
that's the case with SS, Medicare and public pensions. So tell the elderly to go and ask teh $ to those that were making that promise. Let the young free from their dream turned nightmare.
BTW who in their right mind believes a promise made by somebody OTHER than the person that has to deliver it? So go elderly and ask those that MADE that promise to deliver. The young weren't even born back then, so off their backs!
just found this one...
NYers pay outsized share of public pensions
- Taxpayers here pick up 88% of state and local government workers' pension tabs, versus a 67% share nationwide. A testament to union power, say budget experts.
:: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20101020/FREE/101029981
So excited to post another union bashing article that you had to dig up a 10 week old thread?
Yes that is why in New York City our percentage paid of subway and public transportation costs are higher than others in the country. They all do their share of waste and inefficiency but we have the worst union labor and pension costs unfortunately.
THat is a dub statement bgrfrank. Did you ever consdier the fact that our subway costs more than others in the rest of the country since it is the biggest and runs 24/7?
And MTA workers are not that well paid. For bus driver pay, NYC does not even rank in the top 3:
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/03/09/2010-03-09_city_bus_drivers_pay_lags_nationally.html
We have the most people here in NYC so of course it is the biggest. If the unions didn't have the work rules because they want to hire the most of their buddies instead of being efficient for the riders, then maybe we could have simpathy for their wages and pensions that are strangling.
How do the unions hire their "buddies"? You can't do that in a civil service system.
One wonders why all these people complaining did not join the MTA if the pay is so phat. Their complaints just sound like sour grapes to me. Kind of sounds like they didn't do well in their chosen profession, so they take it out on others.
If anyone wants to complain about the MTA, they should complain that it is segregated. All the whites get put in the high paying Metro North/ LIRR while all the minorities are in the lower paying subway.
http://gothamist.com/2011/09/13/indian_restaurant_accused_of.php