Someone told me long ago, there’s a calm before the storm.
I know, and it’s been comin’ for some time. - Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen the Rain
I can’t help but feel that we are in the calm before the storm. It is eerie. I know that we are so badly off course that a collapse is coming. It’s been coming for some time. Anyone with two brain cells can see that with a National Debt of $13.5 trillion and a government adding $1.5 trillion per year to that deficit, we’ll have a National Debt of $20 trillion before 2016. Even if interest rates stay relatively low between now and then (a BIG IF) our annual interest cost on the debt would be about $1 trillion per year. Only a Congressman could look at this situation and not be worried.
Now the debate in the country has turned to the Bush tax cuts. The Republican Party is making this their lynchpin issue for the upcoming elections. They use dire warnings of impending doom if tax rates are allowed to go back up during a recession. Their moron supporters like Larry Kudlow have countdown clocks of tax hike doom on their screens. Initially, Obama and his team of Obamanistas (none left) insisted that all the tax rates be allowed to revert to 2002 levels. Now they have pussied out and will agree to extend the cuts for those making under $250,000. Anything to get re-elected.
What you don’t hear anything about is how will the extension of these tax cuts be paid for. I haven’t seen Boehner or McConnell offering to cut 20% out of the Defense budget. Extending the Bush tax cuts will add $4 TRILLION to the National Debt in the next ten years. I’m all for low taxes – IF THEY ARE PAID FOR BY SPECIFIC BUDGET SPENDING CUTS.
This is where the rubber meets the road. Both parties will posture and pontificate and threaten and use scare tactics in the next two months. They will ultimately approve an extension of all the tax cuts. Knowing these scumbags, they’ll probably throw in a few more tax breaks on top of the existing ones. They will talk about spending restraints, freezes and all manner of bullshit, but none of the spending cuts will be required. A committee will be formed to examine possible spending reductions. Nothing will be done. THE TAX CUTS WILL NOT BE PAID FOR.
AN UNPAID FOR TAX CUT TODAY IS A TAX INCREASE ON FUTURE UNBORN GENERATIONS. SIMPLE.
As a side note, every lying dickhead who goes on CNBC is in the top 1% wealthiest Americans. There ain’t no poor people invited on the Larry Kudlow show. These slimeballs will tell you that small businesses will be devastated if those making over $250,000 don’t get a tax break. That is a lie. The vast majority of small businesses are not in that top 1% of taxpayers. It is the Wall Street slime that appear on CNBC who will get the biggest break.
The ruling elite propagate confusion through misinformation and lies. It has been happening for as long as I can remember. Good men have tried to shine the light on these lies, but the rain keeps poring down. Is there anyone in public life who will tell the American people the truth? Or will they just keep promising more goodies with no consequences? I wonder, still I wonder – Who’ll Stop the Rain?
Long as I remember The rain been coming down.
Clouds of myst’ry pouring Confusion on the ground.
Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun;
And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who’ll stop the rain. – Credence Clearwater Revival – Who’ll Stop the Rain
Reverse Engineer says:
Its irredeemable debt Jim. That which cannot be paid back will not be paid back. Its a mathematical impossibility. Our grandchildren will not be paying this debt back because they will have nothing to pay it back with. Taxes are irrelevant, the monetary system is in full collapse mode. Pigmen will pay back the debt, with their heads.
RE
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 5:36 pm
StuckInNJ says:
Someone out there … ANYONE …. I have an EMERGENCY HERE!!!! Please call 9-1-1 NOW. I’m about to agree with RE. WTF is that disease called anyway?
But, he’s right.
This debt will never, never be repaid. He’s right about it being a mathematical impossibility. I know it. You know it. “They” know it. In short, everyone really REALLY knows it. But the beat goes on … la de da de da. It’s all one big game and everyone pretends it is not.
Maybe … maybe, it’ll be “repaid” if we reach a Weimer-like hyperinflationary period. But that’s not really repayment, is it now. Unless of course we also pretend …. again … that it is. Our monetary system depends on pretend. And, boy oh boy, we’re damn good playas!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 6:11 pm
LLPOH says:
Stuck – even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while. RE is proof.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 7:08 pm
Opinionated Bloviator says:
The short answer is no-one. For the long answer read “The Hunger Games”.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 7:31 pm
Dave says:
Jim: “Obama and his team of Obamanistas (none left) insisted that all the tax rates be allowed to revert to 2002 levels. Now they have pussied out and will agree to extend the cuts for those making under $250,000. Anything to get re-elected.
What you don’t hear anything about is how will the extension of these tax cuts be paid for. I haven’t seen Boehner or McConnell offering to cut 20% out of the Defense budget. Extending the Bush tax cuts will add $4 TRILLION to the National Debt in the next ten years. I’m all for low taxes – IF THEY ARE PAID FOR BY SPECIFIC BUDGET SPENDING CUTS.”
I haven’t seen Pelosi or Reed or Obama(THE MAJORITY LEADERS), who now want to extend most of the cuts, offer any budget cuts tro offset the costs. Why haven’t you mentioned that? How much will the cost of extending cuts to the 98% less wealthy cost over the next ten, five, two years?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 7:46 pm
Administrator says:
We have a real emergency. I agree with Stuck and RE at the same time. Should we sing Kumbaya?
The debt will not be repaid. The system will collapse. Extending the tax cuts without paying for it will accelerate the timetable of the collapse. No one will stop the rain.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:11 pm
flash says:
Hey! I know that tune.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0FtZIiCOzg
Republi-rats know all too well that true statesmen willing to make the hard choices don’t last very long in the Land of Bread and Circuses .
Contract with America? What a ridiculous pile of puffery. Off with their heads!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:13 pm
Buddabull says:
Let the system collapse already. No matter how big or beautiful your house is if your foundation is crumbling your house is going to collapse. Why deny it lets just move forward and start a new. While we are at it we should charge all of the elected officials from both parties with crimes against the state. They new this was happening for the last 50 years and choose to look the other way while filling their pockets and skimming the cream for themselves.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:21 pm
ragman says:
I agree with everybody(so far). This can’t be the real TBP, must be the Bizarro TBP.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:49 pm
Administrator says:
Dave
Why do you always think I’m only going after Repubs. You have a wild hair growing up your ass. NEITHER PARTY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE DEBT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clear enough for you DAVE?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:53 pm
LLPOH says:
Several times lately I have ranted on this site about the propensity for taxing the “rich”. What I am really pissed about is the propensity to continue handing out free shit to 50% of the population while requiring nothing from them in return.
Also, tax increases without spending reductions will not work. Most probably increases in tax will only result in further spending increases. It is what is known as the Theorem of Political SpendingH take the tax paid and multiply it it by several hundred percent, then spend that amount.
Unfortunately what is needed is a BRUTAL spending cut, perhaps of as much as half. It will be painful. It will be crippling. But it may be survivable. The patient is dying and radical surgery is required.
Only after brutal spending cuts should any tax incrreases be considered, and only then to generate surpluses.
Virtually no politician has the guts for this fight so no matter the outcome of coming elections, we are truly screwed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:59 pm
Mike B says:
We’re fucked, it’s that simple, we have spineless idiots who run our government, who have no clue on how much we despise them, how much we are sick of their incompetence, and yet, they are still there, the system lives on (for a while) they live in a fairy-tale world which they believe will never end, and they’re right, they have assumed control until the whole damn thing comes crashing down…they have become what no army on earth could become, and occupying force of destruction….
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 10:01 pm
Apollo says:
“Anyone with two brain cells can see that with a National Debt of $13.5 trillion and a government adding $1.5 trillion per year to that deficit, we’ll have a National Debt of $20 trillion before 2016.”
Well, the last time I checked I counted slightly more than 2 brain cells in my head. So let me give you my take:
- The total Federal debt is $13.5T, about $4.3T of that is foreign. The annual interest payment is about $0.6T. (By the way, total consumer debt is also about $12T, which must be paid back to the banks. Ain’t going to happen. Banks go belly up. FDIC gone insolvent and must be bailed out by, yes, taxpayers.)
- Last year and this year budget deficit is about $1.5T. Every month, they must sell an additional $120B of Treasuries. But next year will be much less. Way less. Why?
a) Who will buy these ADDITIONAL Treasuries next year? Only fools. Risk takers may buy some, if interest rates go up, way up. But jacking rates up will blow the debt repayment sky high. It’s a feeling the Greece government has deep knowledge. You can count on one thing – China won’t buy anymore. It is currently reducing its Treasuries holding at a rate of $20B/month. China is stocking up Yen too – which is why the Yen has gone up 10% this year.
b) There is one fool, however, guaranteed to buy more Treasuries at a rate of $1.5T per year. It’s the Fed. Therefore the DEBT WILL BE PAID! It will be paid by defaulting on various programs by changing the service terms, and by depreciating on the dollar.
(Please, I don’t want to hear anybody saying they agree with me and therefore the country is screwed.)
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 10:09 pm
Administrator says:
Between now and November 4 both parties will show how much they care about us by pushing for extension of the tax cuts and adding more tax cuts to the mix. They will try to top each other in committing our grandchildren’s future so we can live better today. When will Americans stand up for future generations?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 10:21 pm
Smokey says:
“Paying for the tax cuts”—LOL. FUCK “paying” for the tax cuts. It’s not the government’s goddamn money to begin with. Why don’t we try NOT throwing trillions of dollars a year at niggers and illegal wetbacks instead? And instead of spending hundreds of billions of dollars a year subsidizing foreign governments that hate our fucking guts, pay down the fucking debt instead.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 11:17 pm
Steve Hogan says:
Don’t forget the promises to fund Fannie and Freddie. What’s that, another $5-6 trillion? What’s a few trillion among friends?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 1:01 am
Administrator says:
Smokey
I’ve missed your pointed wisdom for the last couple days.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 9:04 am
Administrator says:
Don’t tell Congress that $1 Quadrillion is a real number.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 9:05 am
Brian says:
Relax guys, the Fed is ready to step in if the markets, er, the economy falters. They did ask that we chop down the mightiest tree in the forest with a herring. On second thought, we’re doomed.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 1:55 pm
Thinker says:
Don’t suppose anyone has considered what China, Japan or our other lenders want for their investments, should we default on them…
Hawaii? California? Alaska?
How far will our government go, with their strengthened ‘imminent domain’ laws, to get our debt cancelled? And what right will any American have to speak out against it, when we sat back and let them spend it and encouraged tax cuts so we could have a few measly extra dollars in our own pockets?
What we really need is a politician with the balls to tell us like it is. We need drastic spending cuts (close down all our overseas military bases, cut defense spending in half), we need reasonable tax increases and we need to cut welfare and entitlement programs to the bare bones. We need to tax companies that send jobs overseas and incentivize production here. We need to sacrifice in our lives so America can rebuild on what made us strong to begin with. Only then will our children and grandchildren have any hope for a decent future.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 2:06 pm
flash says:
Fret not , ye worry warts.
The Republicrat’s Young Bums are here to save the Titanic from sinking once again simply by fleshing out their sequel to Contract with America, only this contract is more of a Pledge to America .
A pledge to cut cut 100 billion dollars off the national debt by rolling back the bloated fat assed pig of government – BTW,none of which was their doing- back to pre-stimulus levels.
And us old wizened but worn-out boomers ain’t got to worry about our entitlements being eviscerated .Nope not a dime in Medicare or Social Security will be touched.
Yes , the Republicrats will keep all their free shit heath care and retirement promises and spend the big buckz on the multiple wars and police state surveillance apparatus needed keep us safe from Moo-slims by killing them “over there” so we ain’t got to kill them “over here ”
Sure 13 trillion dollars sounds like a lot of debt, but utilizing the state craft of creative accounting , 100 billions dollar could end this nations death spiral of death sooner than we think.
Sure, it could happen.
Remember Clinton? He had that budget surplus magically appear on the balance sheets and his cabinet wizard Internet Al had that Social Security in a lockbox thing.
Government can do perform imaginary, but wonderful deeds ,and all you have to do is believe.
Just click you heels three times and repeat three times, “The GOP will bring us all a pony”
BTW ,we should get Elizabeth Warren to look over that Contract with America.
If this was in fact an legal and enforceable contract then We The People definitely got fucked on that one.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 4:53 pm
Gaffer says:
Flash,
I’m reading the contract, er, “pledge” to america as we speak. Not done yet, but very unimpressed.
First of all, its a stooooopid idea – it immediately brings to mind the contract with america that many think was a failure.
Secondly, it’s the same horseshit they always feed us, just dressed up differently — “we’re going to cut spending, but don’t worry – we won’t touch defense or anything you care about – we’ll finally find those elusive “efficiencies” and it will all work out!!”
I’ll read it twice, but so far it completely sucks. If this is the best they’ve got, we’re truly fucked.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 5:45 pm
flash says:
Gaffer says:
Flash,
“I’m reading the contract, er, “pledge” to america as we speak. Not done yet, but very unimpressed. ‘
I’ve seen a few highlights and there , but I won’t waste my time reading party inspired empty rhetoric.
Do the young Bums think their fellow a
Americans stupid?
And if they did , who could argue , especially in light of a poll showing 35% of Americans want Bush back.
WTF, is this desire serve a sleazy war criminal another manifestation of the Stockholm syndrome?
http://www.velvetrevolution.us/images/criminals_full2.jpg
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 6:05 pm
Gaffer says:
Flash,
You and everyone else should read it. Because it should be subtitled “After All This Time We STILL Don’t Fucking Get It!”
It’s time to change their name from the Grand Old Party to the Same Old Party.
With regard to the poll – it all depends on how the question was phrased, I hope it was “would you rather have Bush back or Obama” in which case I might have even answered “yes” solely to take a poke at Obama.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 6:52 pm
Smokey says:
George Bush in the decades to come will be universally regarded by historians as the best President in the history of the U.S.A. The legacy left by he and Cheney will be the standard by which all future Presidents model their administrations. Such excellent can never be achieved again, it can only be approached. Bush understood that he had to sacrifice his reputation in the short term, for the good of the country in the long term.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 7:13 pm
Gemini says:
Damn Smokey, you are even higher than I am.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 7:25 pm
flash says:
Gaffer says
“With regard to the poll – it all depends on how the question was phrased, I hope it was “would you rather have Bush back or Obama”
I’d prefer Bush too, for for the simple reason that another 8 years of Bush and a Republicrat couldn’t get elected dog catcher in a China-town.
Dubya the Dullard would have been the death of the duopoly
Speaking of the future of the Republicrat Party look no further than Meghan McLame.
Yep she wrote the book.
You can read the ass scorching review-by a fellow republican, no less – here.Worth the time …really! Those Belt-way repugs will never learn.
http://newledger.com/2010/09/review-meghan-mccains-dirty-sexy-politics/
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:16 pm
Smokey says:
Gemini—I was trying to incite. Didn’t work. I’ll try a different method next time. ———We don’t have nearly enough visitors to this site. I’ve been waiting for several days to mix it up with a newbie, really tee off and provoke a firefight. Still waiting.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:49 pm
Smokey says:
flash—-You reckon that drawmouth would suck the chrome off a trailer hitch?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:52 pm
flash says:
My gut feeling a sloppy loudmouth lay, but hey, after closing time all bets are off.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:59 pm
flash says:
Smokey
My gut feeling tells me Meghan is a loudmouth sloppy lay, but hey, after closing time all bets are off.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 9:03 pm
Gemini says:
Yah, I know. The response I expected was something like….
I smoked and forgot about more dope than you will ever see in your miserable life. I don’t even have to smoke it, I just think about smoking and I get high. I could be buried six feet under ground at the bottom of the grand canyon and still be higher than you, earthworm.
only with more swearing…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 9:26 pm
Smokey says:
flash—-I have stringent requirements for my hotties——-8 to 88 / blind, crippled, or crazy / or not been dead for more than 24 hours.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 11:08 pm
Smokey says:
flash—–My definition of eternity:—- the amount of time it takes me to reach the front door after I get my rocks off.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 11:24 pm
Smokey says:
flash—-I was thinking recently about getting married, then decided, fuck that, I’ll just find a woman I hate and buy her a house.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 11:28 pm
Anonymous says:
Smokey
LOL,
WOMEN!
You can’t live without ‘em and you can’t kill ‘em.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
22nd September 2010 at 8:11 am