07-23-2019, 12:58 PM
(07-23-2019, 09:53 AM)John J. Xenakis Wrote: There are some Debbie Downers, like Rand Paul and other so-called "fiscal conservatives," who are whining that this is going to negatively affect our grandchildren, who will have to pay the bill.
Such protests are silly. To reduce the deficit, we'd have to cut social programs like welfare, medicare, medicaid, and a thousand others. You'd have to be totally delusional to believe that could happen.
In good times, deficits should be at or even below zero, so getting there means raising taxes in a meaningful way and cutting spending. Spending cuts do not have to be, and actually should not be, to social programs, since underfunding them merely shifts costs elsewhere to cover the blowback. For example, undernourished people are more likely to get sick. The homeless likewise, plus they are often a risk to themselves and others. The defense budget, on the other hand, is so bloated that the size of the bloat can't even be determined. Whack off $100 Billion, and see if it makes a difference. If not, repeat until it does.
Intelligence is not knowledge and knowledge is not wisdom, but they all play well together.
