Because DS doesn't have a clue who Dick Durbin is and he didn't read the article. It was just easier for him to spew the same tired talking points he normally does.

That's very Republican of you. Do you also think you shouldn't have to pay for welfare and medicaid?

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Yeah I've never heard of him.
Dick isn't a good guy. He aand his law firm have been up to bullshit shennagins for a very very long time. Is it coincidence how many of his clients find property tax relief, while the rest of us have little to no recourse? Yeah. I'm just an ignorant fuck, don't know anything at all and I'll just spew talking points. Whatever man. You just keep dismissing.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Could it be reformed for future generations? Sure. As it stands right now it doesn't add a penny to our national debt.

Well, it kind of does, since the government does not have any money to pay for, therefore needing to get more money from somewhere. It may be their fault, but it still requires them finding money from some where to pay for it.

Medicaid and welfare I believe need to exist, but need serious reform.

Welfare unfortunately there is no good way to track and stop the abuses that take place and cost us money. Yes, there are people that truly need the help and use welfare to get back on their feet and feed their children when times are rough. The problem is something I see on a daily basis in the work that I do. Somebody stands at the counter buying scratch off after scratch off after scratch off and then buys enough Pick 3 / Pick 4 tickets to be ample kindling for a fire. Followed by them busting out a WIC card to buy their snack food. If you have the cash for lotto, then I don't need to be paying for your groceries. Sadly there is no way to enforce things so that our money is being used for those that really need it. And as a person I would rather just roll my eyes and get pissed at the cheats than take food away from those who really do need it.

Medicaid.... hell at least with that we know who is getting the care. I was having this debate with somebody on Saturday. You can debate the "mandate" of Obamacare all day long. But whether our taxes pay for health care through Obamacare, or our insurance premiums / taxes for Cook County pay for the care, we are still footing the bill. At least with the mandate everybody to some extent has some kind of (and I hate to use the term cause it's a talking point, but I can't find a better wording) skin in the game, even if it's 15 bucks. If we want to kill the mandate, then fine. Do so. But also repeal the Open Door Law passed under Reagan and give hospitals / doctors the ability to extend the middle finger to those who show up without insurance or cash. One way or another our money is gonna pay for their care, so I'd rather everybody at least have some commitment to things. Did that make sense?

Anyone that has consumed any news in the past few weeks know that they are trying to work out a deal to get the national debt under control. Many responsible republicans have said they're open to revenue (taxes on rich) being on the table and responsible democrats like Durbin have said entitlement cuts and reform should be on the table. Considering entitlements along with defense spending make up 88% of our annual spending that's probably a great place to reform or cut. Like taxes for the rich for republicans entitlements are things democrats never want to touch. The responsible people from both sides know it's the only way to get the debt under control and give the market/world confidence that we can still do the right thing for our country.

Well, it kind of does, since the government does not have any money to pay for, therefore needing to get more money from somewhere. It may be their fault, but it still requires them finding money from some where to pay for it.[/quote]
It's solvent for I believe 21 years. And would be solvent for eternity if they removed the cap on earnings that are taxed.

One thing we can kill right away:

Government subsidized cell phones. Seriously, if you can't drop 20 bucks a month on a Net10 phone card, you're pretty much fucked anyway.

You want to explain,rethink, or take this back?

There is still a surplus for the program. They're paying out less money for SS than they are bringing in. Pretty soon that will change with all the baby boomers. That's primarily the reason why they'll need some sort of reform.

You don't like defense spending do you? What should be cut and what should the budget be?

Do I personally believe that that is the right thing to do? No. But that is my response to make the "I have to pay for their health care now" argument. We are already paying for it. It's through higher insurance premiums and higher medical bills instead of a government program, but we already all pay for it.

But no I do not personally believe that we should close our doors to those in need.

Better?

I don't know if I would call Dick Durbin responsible. I wouldn't call anyone in Congress responsible. They are all covering their respective asses.

This is one of those easy things to pick on. What does it cost about $1M a year? By the time you've read this we've already spent 100 times that. I'm sure it benefit a lot of people. We've spent years hunting for small fish. It's about time we focus on the REAL problems.

Yeah, why not?

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Slightly, maybe. Hospitals know they will have a certain amount of non payers and budget for it. Insurance is tricky and have always thought of it as a scam. There should be some sort of rules/laws/guidelines but I don't think the government running it is a good thing.

There is a lot of small fish though and it is what causes a lot of the problems and attitudes. Start with that.

IMO everything should be on the table. I've seen them screw the poor out of so many things just to protect the people who have lobbiest. I think there is more waste in defense than anywhere else but politically it's hard for them to cut. A box of $.20 screws should cost $100k. You should be able to lose $50B. That says enough waste.

Dunno. It effects you more than me. Was wondering if you had a strong opinion either way.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

That's the thing most people don't get, you could cut the other 12% of spending and we would still have a nearly $1T annual deficit. There aren't enough subsidized phone programs or food stamp programs to cut. We spend the same amount in defense in about a day that we spend on welfare. Same with medicare and medicaid.

Don't laugh at me. I really believe the adults have sent the kids to their rooms. Of course I'm generally an optimistic guy. This time it seems real. We'll find out in a few weeks.

There aren't enough "rich" to impact even 1% of the debt problem, and that doesn't even address the spending problem.
And lols at anyone who really thinks durbin would do anything to make significant cuts in entitlements.
This man, and his friends republican and democrat alike are the assholes that put us here over the last 30 years. You think the guy with the shovel digging the hole over 30 years is suddenly the man with the answers worthy of a shoutout and you call me ignorant. That's just cute.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

There is no trust fund that is holding real money for social security. You know, the kind of actual money that you and i may have in a savings account.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatt ... st-fund/2/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 69780.html

Read the info for yourselves. SS is financed as well as our state pension funds have been in Illinois. And for the last two years, SS has paid out more than it has taken in. The "trust fund" is a bunch of IOU's owed to taxpayers who have paid into it.

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I hope you're right. I think it's pretty obvious politicians don't really give a fuck about any of us or our future kids and grandkids by now.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Defense is perceived as important and the waste is not as obvious nor does it result in immediate contempt.

The government should not be wasteful. Doesn't matter if it's 1T or $1.

The spending problem IS entitlements. You could cut all discretionary spending and we would still have a debt problem. Tax revenue is at it's lowest and entitlements need reform. I believe they're going to do it. At this point they really don't have a choice. They really can't kick the can much further.

Maybe stop spending money bombing other countries. Maybe. Aren't bombs sorta expensive?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul