I do not want to get political, all sides are to blame at this point.

Where is this Country going? I think we are in a depression, but because we have unemployment insurance, food stamp and even welfare, it keep a little money flowing.

GE just announced they are moving their x ray developement to China, They are spending 2 billion to set up business there. After 115 years in this Country, that department is going to China.

We used to be a Country with leaders, ingenius inventors and skilled tradesmen. We prided ourselves on our craftsmanship and can do attitude. We don't even have a space program anymore, but we were the first to the moon.

We are only good at consuming and spending. I am guilty of it, I don't know how many thousands of dollars I have spent on video games for my kids. All this so they can stay in their own little world playing. I played board games when i was a kid, WITH MY FAMILY, it was fun and cheap as hell.

Our citizens are suffering out West, between droughts and floods and fire. Yet we send billions to foreign Countries who hate us.

God help us, please.

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Fidelis Ad Mortem

I could not agree with you more.

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Soli Deo Gloria

Same here...

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

I am not scared. They are just bickering back and forth in congress to see who can get reelected. This country has been through tougher times than this and we came out of it just fine. Just think WWI, WWII, Civil War, and 911 just to mention a few. When push comes to shove the American people will stick together and solve this problem. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

I hope the default happens, ...

The problem is the Gov't ability to print even more money,everytime they overdraw the checkbook.

If we run out of money as individuals, we are forced to live within our means. Why should politicians get a free pass?

Maybe we will have to default on our foreign aid to some of the countries that hate us. Or, stop being the worlds policeman.Perhaps we will stop giving rights to and paying for illegal in this Country. Maybe the POTUS and family will have to give up on foreign vacations on the taxpayers dime.

I dunno, maybe a default is what we need...

Giz

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Non gratum anus rodentum

The system as currently configured is addicted to spending. And these days it can always be justified one way or the other. You can't deny something that's already been slipped into a budget or cut an existing program because immediately those who claim it as cause celebre' and their willing sycophants in the media trot out several examples of the poor or downtrodden who will be 'dis-enfranchised' (sheez, I hate that word!) by your callous suggestion to cut funds.

Congressional fiscal policy on both sides (and lets be clear, POTUS proposes but congress spends) has been compared by wags looking for a laugh to 'spending like a drunken sailor' and unfortunately that hits too close to the mark. They truly act as if they're impaired, on a binge, and spending everything they can get their hands on with no real thought to tomorrow.

You cannot eat your cake and have it too. That old axiom is trite, but true. I predict that barring a default or the sudden preponderance of intelligent voters to constitute a majority who swiftly and deftly voting out those who don't toe a responsible line - it's going to continue to get worse until they crash the entire system. It's been heading that way for a long time and a head-in-the-sand mentality has taken us there. The average voter has been complacent to let them do as they please as long as he/she can have their microwave, big screen TV, over-priced vehicle and enough cash to maintain the illusion that they are still somewhat in control of their own lives. They've added the burden on the backs of so many for so long, more have jumped on to ride and fewer and fewer are pulling the wagon. The results are inevitable. In before the lock . . .

I agree with your points above...BUT...what will be cut are our Militaries pay, social security to folks that have paid in for years, veterans, etc.

Our present administration will NOT trim the fat from the foreign aid, gifts to illigals, or vacations.

At some point we will finally realize that government control of our money and economy isn’t a good thing. I’m kind of hoping Social Security checks don’t get mailed out next month. That might be a slap in the face wake up that the gov dolling out the funds as they see fit will trigger in people an actual desire for change and not just change of face. But I doubt it.

And I have been scared for a while now.

I have the utmost respect for Lee and would never defecate on the floor of his house so will try to restrain myself from saying what I think.

Because I was afeered I would say bad things once before I voluntarily took my self off the forum. I like being back among old friends and new ones so must restrain myself.

Now where did I put that cotton picking Valium & BP med?

AMEN brother

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Dyin ain't much of a livin

I still say this is all about getting reelected. I think we should throw all the bums out and let the S&W Forum members run the country. As my wife would say "what do you think about them apples" Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

Come on, when you reach your limit on your credit card, the bank just raises the limit. Forever. Right? Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

As bad as it is here (and I do think it is bad), it is worse everyplace else. I still have some hope. I believe that our economy is still stronger than the government, even with the impediments that is dragging it down.

As I see it, the single biggest problem in this is jealousy. That is the root of the class warfare soak the rich rhetoric. It is easier to blame someone else for not achieving what you want instead of taking responsibility for yourself. The government feeds on this, promising endless handouts to everyone at someone else's expense.

I wish I new how to fix this - how do you make someone give up their handout and take responsibility for themselves, make the weak strong, or the cowardly courageous? I have no idea.

As far as people moving their business to China, I think in the long run they will regret it. Never forget, that even though their labor is cheap, it is a communist country. They have no respect for private property or the rule of law (at least as we see it). They are nothing but liars and cheats. When times turn tough there, do you think they are going to respect the private property rights of a bunch of foreigners?

We have met the enemy.....and he is us. Strap on your codpieces boys-it's gonna get a bit bumpy.

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Forum consigliere

Does it seem that they'll actually fail to mail Social Security checks soon? I rely on mine for a lot.

I'm hoping that they'll be afraid on both sides to upset so many SS recepients and their relatives.

I think this delay is mainly because the Big O is trying to avoid the issue coming up in 2012 while he's trying for reelection. He wants a plan that'll last until 2013.

I have to agree, there has to be a house cleaning in congress, its time we get politicians out of politics and put common sense business people in there, people that know how to balance a budget, work with what they have and realize that there is no endless flow of money, the american working people have been pushed far enough. A darn good start would be by cutting any and all aid to illegals, exactly what part of the word illegal do they not understand. ok, rant over.

It would not be a house cleaning it would be pumping the septic tank.

Bekeart

If they fail to mail those checks, it will simply be a political ploy to try to blame the Republicans for you not getting your check.

SS has a surplus right now. The only way you won't get your check is if the administration shuts down the Treasury Dept.

I'm 60 years old and SS has been used to scare older voters ever since I've been paying attention to political news.

I think those checks will continue to be mailed.

Isn't SS in a "lockbox"? Or so we were told..............

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Sure you did

I think they will stiff the SS recipients before they stiff the welfare recipients. They are smart enough to stay loyal to their voter base. SS recipients are not as Party loyal voters as welfare recipients.

Everyones opinion on this issue will be directly related to the extent their ox is being gored.

Two things that will continue to come, hell or high water, military paychecks and SS checks. That is, unless the government wants a revolution on its hands. "Lock and load one round of ball ammunition".

Social Security Trust Fund - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Everyone should read this as a refresher...

Just checked my 401K, see that it`s already cost me $5,000s this morning!

Military pay barely went out earlier this year over the budget impasse. Originally only a half pay check was going to be deposited. A last minute Congressional vote saw to it that a full pay period's money was issued, but it was a near run thing.

Locally (I live on PIMCRD), lots of people aren't spending and have little faith in being paid.

Anyway, Gore Vidal observed a while back that the U.S. military was the only institution left in the country that the public had any faith in to clear up a mess and that he fulled expected a military government to take control everntually.

‘I’m just quitting’: A scene right out of ‘Atlas Shrugged’ in Birmingham « David McElroy

I'm curious how much of this is going on already.

I'm also curious if guys like him got together with guys that run refineries and said, "You know what? Since all we do is pollute, then we are just all going to shut down..."

How long would it last before either the government saw the light or showed their true colors...

Fixed it...

27145,

I feel ya.

I am extremely fortunate that my wife and I have careers that can afford a lot of spending. With steady paychecks we consumed ourselves into quite a load of debt. It's amazing how much credit can be given to people with good jobs with a long work history...

We ate it up.

I was very fortunate also in that while going through a divorce with my first wife, we sold our home, in 2006. We did very, very well with the sale.

Fast forward a few years and I have a new family, and when my son was born (first child) my wife and I looked at our finances and were shocked. Suddenly we didn't feel like the income earners were are, living from paycheck to paycheck.

The bust happened.

While looking at buying a house post-bust, two things were obvious:

1) The housing market is a long, long way from recovering.
2) If we were to buy we would carry our consumer debt for decades.

Instead of buying a house, we paid every single debt off. We owe NOTHING. Every cent of our money goes to our family.

It took us years.

No one should be scared. Make a plan. Pay off all you owe, no matter what, no matter how long it takes.

The payoff is that your money is YOURS.

What does this have to do with the original post?

Debt free with substantial savings equals FREEDOM. Think about that...it is powerful. Freedom means not being afraid of anything short of a zombie apocalypse. Being free means not taking any **** from anyone. I cannot describe how empowering and liberating being free from debt is.

I look at the news and I think "who care's, we're good"

I bet that would save a bit right there...

Actualy, I am not scared. I am far from rich, but I owe nothing. We get just enough income to cover everything but none to save. I figure if the worst financhal senerio happens it should shake the tree hard enough to run off the wrong people we have in. Obama wants more taxs and says we should spend less and sacrifice. How can anyone respect ANYTHING he says? Read this partial E-mail someone sent me recently. Whatcha think?

First Lady Michelle Obama's Servant List and Pay Scale

The First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants (that's 22 attendants to be exact)


1. $172,200 - Sher, Susan (Chief Of Staff)
2. $140,000 - Frye, Jocelyn C. (Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Policy And Projects For The First Lady)
3. $113,000 - Rogers, Desiree G. (Special Assistant to the President and White House Social Secretary)
4. $102,000 - Johnston, Camille Y. (Special Assistant to the President and Director of Communications for the First Lady)
5. $100,000 - Winter, Melissa E. (Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
6. $90,000 - Medina , David S. (Deputy Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
7. $84,000 - Lelyveld, Catherine M. (Director and Press Secretary to the First Lady)
8. $75,000 - Starkey, Frances M. (Director of Scheduling and Advance for the First Lady)
9. $70,000 - Sanders, Trooper (Deputy Director of Policy and Projects for the First Lady)
10. $65,000 - Burnough, Erinn J. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
11. $64,000 - Reinstein, Joseph B. (Deputy Director and Deputy Social Secretary)
12. $62,000 - Goodman, Jennifer R. (Deputy Director of Scheduling and Events Coordinator For The First Lady)
13. $60,000 - Fitts, Alan O. (Deputy Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady)
14. $57,500 - Lewis, Dana M. (Special Assistant and Personal Aide to the First Lady)
15. $52,500 - Mustaphi, Semonti M. (Associate Director and Deputy Press Secretary to The First Lady)
16. $50,000 - Jarvis, Kristen E. (Special-2Assistant for Scheduling and Traveling Aide to The First Lady)
17. $45,000 - Lechtenberg, Tyler A. (Associate Director of Correspondence For The First Lady)
18. $43,000 - Tubman, Samantha (Deputy Associate Director, Social Office)
19. $40,000 - Boswell, Joseph J. (Executive Assistant to the Chief Of Staff to the First Lady)
20. $36,000 - Armbruster, Sally M. (Staff Assistant to the Social Secretary)
21. $35,000 - Bookey, Natalie (Staff Assistant)
22. $35,000 - Jackson, Deilia A. (Deputy Associate Director of Correspondence for the First Lady) (This is community organizing at it's finest.)

There has NEVER been anyone in the White House at any time who has created such an army of staffers whose sole duties are the facilitation of the First Lady's social life.One wonders why she needs so much help, at taxpayer expense, when even Hillary, only had three; Jackie Kennedy one; Laura Bush one; and prior to Mamie Eisenhower social help came from the President's own pocket.

Note: This does not include makeup artist Ingrid Grimes-Miles, 49, and "First Hairstylist" Johnny Wright, 31, both of whom traveled aboard Air Force One to Europe.

FRIENDS.....THESE SALARIES ADD UP TO SIX MILLION, THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS ($6,364,000) FOR THE 4 YEARS OF OFFICE????? AND WE ARE IN A RECESSION????? WELL.....MOST OF US ARE.



I GUESS IT'S OK TO SPEND WILDLY WHEN IT'S NOT YOUR OWN MONEY?????

I agree with the sentiment of it but:

snopes.com: First Lady Requires More Than Twenty Attendants

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Lou

Someone once said in America you can't buy respect, you have to earn it. Care to wager on that?

Que sabe? What about her takeing all her friends with her on those plush multi-million dollar trips I keep hearing about?
I heard that some percentage like 10% of the richest people in this country pay the far majority of the taxs in this country and 40% pay next to none. Now I aint rich, but really, I dont think its fair to tax the rich exorbinately, and 40% get a free ride and many free lunchs. No wonder the rich take their factory overseas! I belive in a fair tax even if it costs me more. I actualy feel sorry for the rich!
I have been retired since 2,000. I paid my dues all my working life. Most my working life I was a batchlor. I was paying high supports due to a short lived marrage. I had to work over 40 hours a week before I had money to eat and gas. Thank God I had a good job with tons of OT available. That was the good news, the bad news was that averageing 65 hours a week put me in the 40% bracket or so for all my OT. I know I averaged a good 65 hours a week for 35 years. I would take a few days off about once a month, worked 7 days a week sometimes for 3 or 4 months at a time. I made it.
I never went to college, but I am to feel obliged to send other peoples kids there? Even my daughter never went to high school. (Her choice, her mom had her and couldnt make her go, still she DID graduate by some deal of turning her work in one afternoon a week, she worked for her mom from 13 years old and still does dispatching for a tow company my ex owns.
The point of this is there seems to be a big wont be answered mystery where Obama got his money for harvard? Far as I know he never done any job but useing his jive as a community organiser. The man doesnt know what it is to sweat for a buck like all of us have. Yet he "speaks" trillions into existance! He has absolutely not a inkling of what it is like to earn a buck, yet wants to play robin hood with a working mans hard earned pay. It is nothing more than outright stealing from the honest to give to the sick, lame and lazy! MY HERO, NOT! Edited. Just checked, now minus $7,500s. Someone git a rope!

You can take your pick: US (country) or us (the people) don't have a problem, we are having a media event.

WW I, the Depression, WW II were tough times for this country. Korea, Viet Nam, Iraq, and Afghanistan were/are difficult times for America's military. 9/11 was a one day tragedy for this country. And I lost a good-paying engineering job because of it on October 30 due declining national economy and product sales.

The "debt crisis" is a media event brought to you by the talking heads and network television. This is the same group that brought you the "End of the World" following the Japan earthquake. When was the last time you heard a news report about Japan 'melting down'?

I don't believe any government checks will be delayed -- certainly not any checks for government workers from the President down to the janitor at the local congressional office. I agree that the job performance in Washington, DC is a disgrace but not the start of financial meltdown. And the solution will be distasteful to the American public.

If all, 100%, of the "Adjusted Gross Income" from Tax Forms 1040A or 1040 was collected as Federal Income Tax for calendar year 2011 it would only pay 53% of the current national debt. And there would be nothing left to pay your state or local taxes OR food, gasoline, electricity, natural gas, water, or your local gun shop! This talking head story did hold my interest on Fox News at about 9:15 AM.

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S&WHF 366

I won't say what prompts me to think of something my Father once told me, but think of it I do......

Back in 1976 or 1977 my Dad & I were sitting at the Bar over at our local American Legion Hall when I asked him if he thought the Soviet Union could ever take over the U.S.

He said something along these lines. "Well, I don't know about the Soviet Union. I think that if this Country is ever taken over the American people will just wake up one day and it will have already happened. The scary thing about this is that they, the American people, will have elected those who have taken over."

This just in . . . "Alcoholics Anonymous announced a new program today designed to cure alcoholism by raising the limit of alcohol for drinkers . . . film at 11:00 . . . "

Howdy,
Here is what was reported to me to have been said by T. Boone Pickens.

“I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than three percent of GDP all sitting members of congress are ineligible for re-election."

I thought it was cute and I'll keep my opinions to myself.
Thanks
Mike

If that doesn't work they could always follow the Govt's lead and just change up the name, i.e. revenue increases / tax increases, and that's just but one example.

Alcoholism could become Spiritulism, which would then allow Alcoholics to call themselves Spiritulists.
That sounds so much nicer........

im guessing we all need to be learning how to speak chinese!

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WILL WORK FOR AMMO!

I'm usually against more laws, rules, and ordinances, but that one I could stomach just fine.

Somebody ask earlier what to cut in spending. What about the Congress's salary for openers, and ditch their health care program. I'll be willing to bet the "deadlock" would last about 15 more minutes.

I know I've already had my turn, but something I heard on Meet The Press last Sunday. I wonder how many of you caught it. It went something like this, (from a political commentator), "What is this big deal about the "debt limit or ceiling" that everybody keeps talking about. We are the only country in the world that has any such thing. Why don't they do away with it. It serves no real purpose."

I don't know if this is a true observation on my part, or not.
I haven't heard anyone else say it. For the recent past, it seems
as if the country is being set up for a hard fall, on purpose.
In foreign policy, such as sucking up to people we shouldn't, to our
economy, every thing that makes us weaker is being done. You
simply can't throw dung on your so-called allies while making nice
to people who want to see us in the dirt or the grave. Here at home,
we seem to be doing everything we can to make everything we need cost more. Look at our sorry situation with oil/gas. Also, with
coal. It's supposed to cost a lot more, according to what the pres.
said in an interview. Any one that can make me see the flaws in my
outlook, PLEASE, straighten me out! I'm worried, too.....TACC1