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by dothemath 4918 days ago
It's the spending stupid. Even with tax rates going up and the cuts going into effect, we still spend more than we take in. Cut defense 100% and tax the rich at 100%, we still are not at a balanced budget. The federal government does not have an income problem, it has a spending problem.
1 comments
zacharycohn 4917 days ago
If you're going to make statements, rather than opinions, please base them on facts. If you cut defense 100% and make no other changes, the budget would be balanced.

2012 deficit: $1.1T [1] 2012 military budget: $1.03T to $1.4T [2]

[1] http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/pagedetails.action?packageId...

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_S...

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ryguytilidie 4917 days ago
No no no, that doesn't fit into the whole republican narrative that taxes need to be lower and spending needs to be lower. How a moderator makes the comment that guy made just blows my mind. Complete and utter ignorance.

Edit: Just noticed his name was dothemath, head explodes.

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dothemath 4917 days ago
I'm a Libertarian. Even if I were a Republican, you can't argue the facts that spending is totally out of control. Can you name one country that spent itself into prosperity?
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ryguytilidie 4917 days ago
"you can't argue the facts"

You've presented one single fact and it was incorrect. Now you're presenting an opinion.

"Can you name one country that spent itself into prosperity?"

The United States has been pretty awesome at cyclically spending a ton of money on infrastructure projects after recessions. WPA is probably one of the most successful things we've ever done. Feels like you should keep an open mind in discussions like these versus using opinions as facts.

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dothemath 4917 days ago
Just to end this silliness using your numbers in the budget. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/factsheet_department_defense

$553 billion was the amount Obama requested. Only half of the deficit.

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dothemath 4917 days ago
You must be right since you got your numbers from Obama's proposed budget that did not get even one vote in the House of representatives. If you are going to accuse me of not using the facts, than why resort to that piece of science fiction? I hope you understand the budget you just posted is not the actual spending that happened in 2012. It never became law.
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