[sreeb]

[quote=CA renter]

Our American cars have run at least as well as our current Honda, which has had its fair share of problems, BTW.

[/quote]

Mechanically, most cars are much better than they used to be. However there is more to a car than the engine and transmission. My wife’s 10 year old Buick is parked in the driveway. Aside from replacing the intake manifold, it has been reliable. However, the paint started peeling off in sheets at 6 years and the interior is basically dissolving as (very expensive) plastic bits just fall off and the cushions collapse. I won’t even think of buying another Buick until I start seeing 10 year old ones in decent shape. I won’t be buying a Ford either since I have had bad experiences with parts being either unavailable or ridiculously priced.

[sreeb]

So far the money printing hasn’t shown up as inflation here in the US.

Part of that is the decrease in the velocity of money. As long as inflation is very low, you can afford to sit on cash. But if we do see inflation or a continued fall in the dollar, that money will run from cash dollars, increasing velocity and providing positive feedback.

We are now in a truly global economy. Money printed here doesn’t stay here. It causes inflation world wide. Google China and “hot money”. This is also why stimulus money won’t work effectively anymore. Instead of stimulating the US, money just pours into Asia.

[sreeb]

So far the money printing hasn’t shown up as inflation here in the US.

Part of that is the decrease in the velocity of money. As long as inflation is very low, you can afford to sit on cash. But if we do see inflation or a continued fall in the dollar, that money will run from cash dollars, increasing velocity and providing positive feedback.

We are now in a truly global economy. Money printed here doesn’t stay here. It causes inflation world wide. Google China and “hot money”. This is also why stimulus money won’t work effectively anymore. Instead of stimulating the US, money just pours into Asia.

[sreeb]

So far the money printing hasn’t shown up as inflation here in the US.

Part of that is the decrease in the velocity of money. As long as inflation is very low, you can afford to sit on cash. But if we do see inflation or a continued fall in the dollar, that money will run from cash dollars, increasing velocity and providing positive feedback.

We are now in a truly global economy. Money printed here doesn’t stay here. It causes inflation world wide. Google China and “hot money”. This is also why stimulus money won’t work effectively anymore. Instead of stimulating the US, money just pours into Asia.

[sreeb]

So far the money printing hasn’t shown up as inflation here in the US.

Part of that is the decrease in the velocity of money. As long as inflation is very low, you can afford to sit on cash. But if we do see inflation or a continued fall in the dollar, that money will run from cash dollars, increasing velocity and providing positive feedback.

We are now in a truly global economy. Money printed here doesn’t stay here. It causes inflation world wide. Google China and “hot money”. This is also why stimulus money won’t work effectively anymore. Instead of stimulating the US, money just pours into Asia.

[sreeb]

So far the money printing hasn’t shown up as inflation here in the US.

Part of that is the decrease in the velocity of money. As long as inflation is very low, you can afford to sit on cash. But if we do see inflation or a continued fall in the dollar, that money will run from cash dollars, increasing velocity and providing positive feedback.

We are now in a truly global economy. Money printed here doesn’t stay here. It causes inflation world wide. Google China and “hot money”. This is also why stimulus money won’t work effectively anymore. Instead of stimulating the US, money just pours into Asia.

[sreeb]

[quote=permabear][quote=AN]Pensions $747.1 5.7
Health Care $783.8 6.0
Education $900.8 6.9
Defense $622.2 4.8
Welfare $411.4 3.2
Interest $312.3 2.4[/quote]

Those figures are somewhat deceiving. The defense budget doesn’t count spending that is under Homeland Security or the State Department or black ops. Several reports have found that billions of our defense budget is now off-books or hidden in other departments. Here’s a conservative estimate:

[quote=Mother Jones]But the real number is even higher, because, among other things, the OMB doesn’t count supplemental spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve combed through this year’s budget documents to add up military-related spending throughout the entire government…. The total: $780.4 billion[/quote]

Shock and Audit: The Hidden Defense Budget

You debate the exact numbers but number make two things very clear:

1) If interest rate only go up by a factor of 4 (not unrealistic given how low they are now), we are completely screwed.

2) You can’t cut 40% of spending (required to balance the budget) solely in defense or any other single category. It will take massive cuts in everything.

[sreeb]

[quote=permabear][quote=AN]Pensions $747.1 5.7
Health Care $783.8 6.0
Education $900.8 6.9
Defense $622.2 4.8
Welfare $411.4 3.2
Interest $312.3 2.4[/quote]

Those figures are somewhat deceiving. The defense budget doesn’t count spending that is under Homeland Security or the State Department or black ops. Several reports have found that billions of our defense budget is now off-books or hidden in other departments. Here’s a conservative estimate:

[quote=Mother Jones]But the real number is even higher, because, among other things, the OMB doesn’t count supplemental spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve combed through this year’s budget documents to add up military-related spending throughout the entire government…. The total: $780.4 billion[/quote]

Shock and Audit: The Hidden Defense Budget

You debate the exact numbers but number make two things very clear:

1) If interest rate only go up by a factor of 4 (not unrealistic given how low they are now), we are completely screwed.

2) You can’t cut 40% of spending (required to balance the budget) solely in defense or any other single category. It will take massive cuts in everything.

[sreeb]

[quote=permabear][quote=AN]Pensions $747.1 5.7
Health Care $783.8 6.0
Education $900.8 6.9
Defense $622.2 4.8
Welfare $411.4 3.2
Interest $312.3 2.4[/quote]

Those figures are somewhat deceiving. The defense budget doesn’t count spending that is under Homeland Security or the State Department or black ops. Several reports have found that billions of our defense budget is now off-books or hidden in other departments. Here’s a conservative estimate:

[quote=Mother Jones]But the real number is even higher, because, among other things, the OMB doesn’t count supplemental spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve combed through this year’s budget documents to add up military-related spending throughout the entire government…. The total: $780.4 billion[/quote]

Shock and Audit: The Hidden Defense Budget

You debate the exact numbers but number make two things very clear:

1) If interest rate only go up by a factor of 4 (not unrealistic given how low they are now), we are completely screwed.

2) You can’t cut 40% of spending (required to balance the budget) solely in defense or any other single category. It will take massive cuts in everything.

[sreeb]

[quote=permabear][quote=AN]Pensions $747.1 5.7
Health Care $783.8 6.0
Education $900.8 6.9
Defense $622.2 4.8
Welfare $411.4 3.2
Interest $312.3 2.4[/quote]

Those figures are somewhat deceiving. The defense budget doesn’t count spending that is under Homeland Security or the State Department or black ops. Several reports have found that billions of our defense budget is now off-books or hidden in other departments. Here’s a conservative estimate:

[quote=Mother Jones]But the real number is even higher, because, among other things, the OMB doesn’t count supplemental spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve combed through this year’s budget documents to add up military-related spending throughout the entire government…. The total: $780.4 billion[/quote]

Shock and Audit: The Hidden Defense Budget

You debate the exact numbers but number make two things very clear:

1) If interest rate only go up by a factor of 4 (not unrealistic given how low they are now), we are completely screwed.

2) You can’t cut 40% of spending (required to balance the budget) solely in defense or any other single category. It will take massive cuts in everything.

[sreeb]

[quote=permabear][quote=AN]Pensions $747.1 5.7
Health Care $783.8 6.0
Education $900.8 6.9
Defense $622.2 4.8
Welfare $411.4 3.2
Interest $312.3 2.4[/quote]

Those figures are somewhat deceiving. The defense budget doesn’t count spending that is under Homeland Security or the State Department or black ops. Several reports have found that billions of our defense budget is now off-books or hidden in other departments. Here’s a conservative estimate:

[quote=Mother Jones]But the real number is even higher, because, among other things, the OMB doesn’t count supplemental spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve combed through this year’s budget documents to add up military-related spending throughout the entire government…. The total: $780.4 billion[/quote]

Shock and Audit: The Hidden Defense Budget

You debate the exact numbers but number make two things very clear:

1) If interest rate only go up by a factor of 4 (not unrealistic given how low they are now), we are completely screwed.

2) You can’t cut 40% of spending (required to balance the budget) solely in defense or any other single category. It will take massive cuts in everything.

[sreeb]

[quote=briansd1][quote=sreeb] Demographics are stacked against us as the baby boomers start to retire. [/quote]

Immigration is a great way to grow the population and the economy. Assuming we freeze spending growth, large scale immigration can provide the economic kick necessary to pay down the debt.

We could also start selling US citizenship for $1 million each. Not that rich people would want to live here, but a US passport is a good travel document and a good insurance policy againsts unrest around the world.

My bet is that baby boomers will find themselves cared for by imported immigrant nurses and health care workers. Imagine the anti-immigrant folks of today being spoon fed by new immigrants.[/quote]

Unemployment among young, low skilled, or poorly educated American citizens is very high. If you are referring to illegal immigrants, you are basically advocating importing poor people (likely more ambitious and harder working than our native poor but still poor and under educated). I don’t believe we have a shortage and I don’t think they are an economic benefit as long as we maintain a welfare state.

I favor allowing more skilled and educated immigrants.

[sreeb]

[quote=briansd1][quote=sreeb] Demographics are stacked against us as the baby boomers start to retire. [/quote]

Immigration is a great way to grow the population and the economy. Assuming we freeze spending growth, large scale immigration can provide the economic kick necessary to pay down the debt.

We could also start selling US citizenship for $1 million each. Not that rich people would want to live here, but a US passport is a good travel document and a good insurance policy againsts unrest around the world.

My bet is that baby boomers will find themselves cared for by imported immigrant nurses and health care workers. Imagine the anti-immigrant folks of today being spoon fed by new immigrants.[/quote]

Unemployment among young, low skilled, or poorly educated American citizens is very high. If you are referring to illegal immigrants, you are basically advocating importing poor people (likely more ambitious and harder working than our native poor but still poor and under educated). I don’t believe we have a shortage and I don’t think they are an economic benefit as long as we maintain a welfare state.

I favor allowing more skilled and educated immigrants.

[sreeb]

[quote=briansd1][quote=sreeb] Demographics are stacked against us as the baby boomers start to retire. [/quote]

Immigration is a great way to grow the population and the economy. Assuming we freeze spending growth, large scale immigration can provide the economic kick necessary to pay down the debt.

We could also start selling US citizenship for $1 million each. Not that rich people would want to live here, but a US passport is a good travel document and a good insurance policy againsts unrest around the world.

My bet is that baby boomers will find themselves cared for by imported immigrant nurses and health care workers. Imagine the anti-immigrant folks of today being spoon fed by new immigrants.[/quote]

Unemployment among young, low skilled, or poorly educated American citizens is very high. If you are referring to illegal immigrants, you are basically advocating importing poor people (likely more ambitious and harder working than our native poor but still poor and under educated). I don’t believe we have a shortage and I don’t think they are an economic benefit as long as we maintain a welfare state.

I favor allowing more skilled and educated immigrants.

[sreeb]

[quote=briansd1][quote=sreeb] Demographics are stacked against us as the baby boomers start to retire. [/quote]

Immigration is a great way to grow the population and the economy. Assuming we freeze spending growth, large scale immigration can provide the economic kick necessary to pay down the debt.

We could also start selling US citizenship for $1 million each. Not that rich people would want to live here, but a US passport is a good travel document and a good insurance policy againsts unrest around the world.

My bet is that baby boomers will find themselves cared for by imported immigrant nurses and health care workers. Imagine the anti-immigrant folks of today being spoon fed by new immigrants.[/quote]

Unemployment among young, low skilled, or poorly educated American citizens is very high. If you are referring to illegal immigrants, you are basically advocating importing poor people (likely more ambitious and harder working than our native poor but still poor and under educated). I don’t believe we have a shortage and I don’t think they are an economic benefit as long as we maintain a welfare state.

I favor allowing more skilled and educated immigrants.

[Author]

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