7 replies to this topic

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Financial rules and budgeting will come to a halt on 12/31/12.

*In no particular order

Military-
300,000 troops laid off.
Smallest size military since 1940. (Some will argue that's a good thing but with all
the conflicts going on?) Dicey at best.

Money-banks-
Got money in the bank that is protected by FDIC? No guarantee is we plunge off the cliff.
(About 1.5 trillion in deposits-uninsured overnight. Small/large businesses, taxpayers,
banks-all at risk.

Tax rates on stocks will skyrocket from 15% to about 50%. Wall street will be reeling.

Medicare-
cuts of 30% or more. That will come out of seniors pockets to cover the difference.

Vendors for the fed-
payment delays or not paid at all.

Some other wonderful stuff-
"1: The expiration of the two year extension of the Bush tax cuts provided for in the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.
2: The expiration of a Social Security payroll tax cut, most recently extended by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.
3: Across the board spending cuts to most discretionary programs as directed by the Budget Control Act of 2011.
4: The expiration of federal unemployment benefits.
5: New taxes imposed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
6: The expiration of measures delaying the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate from taking effect.
7: The reversion of the Alternative Minimum Tax thresholds to their 2000 tax year level.
That’s just January 1. The rest of the damage will all occur by the end of March."

Source

So what did boehner & his bagger minions do? They've left for vacation.

Imo? It's treasonous and they should all be tried as traitors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason

[Shortpoet-GTD]

And let's not forget paul ryan's hand in this too.
Article

[FamilyTreeClimber]

This Congress is a disgrace.  Speaker Boehner is doing everything within his power to ensure that no legislation gets passed in the House before the election.  They are so terrified that anything will look like a Barack Obama victory that they are willing to throw us all over the cliff to do it.

I can add a couple of things to your list.  There will be no Farm Bill for the first time in decades.    Tucked away in the Farm Bill was the 2012 Emergency Drought Relief provisions.  This means there will be no relief for anyone affected by this year's drought at least not until January when the new Congress is sworn in.  That will affect food growers and producers, those who supply farmers with equipment and other materials, and the consumer who will see prices increase.   I think it may be the first time in modern history that Congress turns its back on a section of the country dealing with a natural disaster.

Let's not forget the Job Bill that has been sitting in the House since 2011.  Can't let anyone think the President created jobs so we won't hold a vote at all.  Then, there is the Military Veterans Job Corp. act that was created by a bipartisan committee in the Senate and killed this week by the Republicans on a procedural vote.  No matter.   The House already said they would not vote on it anyway.  The prevailing attitude seems to be that our Veterans should be used to sacrificing so they don't need help getting jobs.  Their rampant unemployment should be a black eye for Congress. (See Senator Tom Coburn's comments on this bill).

And, let's not forget the Post Office.  The future retirees pre-funding of health insurance regulation that went into effect in 2006 is making the Post Office bleed money.  They are the only government agency that must pre-fund health insurance for people who will not retire for decades.  The Post Office defaulted on a $5.5 billion payment for these "pre-retiree" health benefits this Summer.  They pleaded for help before the House, but they got no action.  Do we all really think UPS or Fed Ex will deliver our birthday cards and bills as cheaply as the Post Office does?

This is by far the most inept Congress in our history.  Even when the liberal Tip O'Neill and the conservative Ronald Reagan were running the show, they came to agreement on certain things because it was necessary for our economic survival.  We now have a party that would rather crash the economy to get political gain than to work on legislation that might help the country.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Part of the farm bill also deals with food stamps. Hungry kids? Who cares, right boehner?

And the veterans jobs bills has thousands of people po'ed.
Rachel Maddow showed part of the proof on her show last night.

Her Facebook page, the number of shares-etc. -the normal range.
But when she did the story on the inaction of the congress, her numbers were through the roof; proof positive
that people DO care about our veterans.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/

[Hardison]

This is an eye opening thread. I didn't know this was happening. I take a couple days break from the news and all heck break loose. Honestly, I'll be so glad when the November elections are over. When the Romney/Ryan ticket loses, the Republicans will have to take a good long look at their party and retool. I welcome that.

I do like Rachel Maddow and I finally liked her Facebook page. AltenergyShift too!

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Problem being, with the congress waiting 2 more months to stop the runaway train until after the elections,
they will only have about 5-6 weeks to get it done.
As molasses slow as they are, and as many times/committees they've formed to tackle this-all for naught,
it's going to be cutting it damn close.
If
Big IF
they do it at all.
If (Massive HOPE) they get replaced, then they can say to their big oil buddies, that they never gave an inch.

The gop has shown over and over again, that they think we're stupid and they're willing to trash the world's
economy just so long as they get that N____ out of office.
That's the bottom line.
That he's a Democrat makes it even worse for them.

All they really know how to do well is hate.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

Shortpoet, I forgot that food stamps were included in the Farm Bill.  But, since the House Republicans have been trying to cut funding to that program, I doubt they have shed many tears for the people who depend on that aid.

Hardison, I have very little faith that much will change in Congress since Boehner has already said if they lose in November they will still oppose the President's agenda.  If you add to this that almost every piece of legislation in the Senate must be able to break a filibuster before it can get a floor vote, you can see why this is called the "do nothing" Congress.

I think the only way it will change is if the Republican party decides that it is part of the government and serves the nation.   And, we need to get rid of these people who idolize Ayn Rand.  I simple cannot understand why people who do not believe the government has a role in society would want to be a part of it.

The Veterans Job Corp act was written by Republicans and Democrats in committee.  It would have provided job training for unemployed veterans.  It would have given incentives to businesses who hire these veterans.  I'm not big on war, but I think when you send your military to war, the least you could do as a country to show your gratitude is give them a hand up and help them stay off the streets.  It's a disgrace how many unemployed veterans we have!  In some cities, they make up the majority of the homeless population.

I mentioned Tom Coburn because he has this skewed idea that if you are in the military if the government helps you out then it defiles your sense of sacrifice.  I guess we are supposed to applaud the fact that veterans are starving themselves because they have no jobs.  He called it un-American to help them because it tarnished their sacrifice.  What kind of backward thinking is that?  What about our obligation and debt to them?  What about letting them live with honor and dignity after they have spent years of their lives defending our country?  Doesn't that account for anything?

[Shortpoet-GTD]

I wonder if any of them watched Aung San Suu Kyi speak in Washington the other day?
Her idea's, views are so inspirational; especially when she repeatedly spoke of opposition forces and working
with them-including their idea's into their government.

When I hear the word "opposition forces", I can't help but think of the congress.
It almost made me want to move to Burma.

She spoke of rule of law and civil rights going hand in hand; something we're still working on after all these years.

It's a bit long, but if you have the time-here's the video link.
  http://www.c-span.or...ns/10737434181/