It's fun to post about politics in the middle of the night.
I asked people to suggest rant topics, and _jems_ came up with a fabulous one, Bush's irresponsible monetary policies. I'm going to have to grab more links & data to fully rant about this topic, but here's a good starting point:
Record '05 Deficit - Forecast War Costs Will Raise Total to $427 Billion
Additional war spending this year will push the federal deficit to a record $427 billion for fiscal 2005, effectively thwarting President Bush's pledge to begin stanching the flow of government red ink, according to new administration budget forecasts unveiled yesterday.
Administration officials rolled out an $80 billion emergency spending request, mainly for Iraq and Afghanistan, conceding that the extra money would probably send the federal deficit above the record $412 billion recorded in fiscal 2004, which ended Sept. 30. Bush has pledged to cut the budget deficit in half by 2009, a promise the administration says it can keep. But at least for now, the government's fiscal health is worsening.
Duuuuuuuuude. DUDE! I don't understand how the GOP labels Democrats as the "free spending, fiscally irresponsible" party when every single time their party is in control, we wind up with huge fucking deficits and recessions.
Again, like I said... I'm going to dig up a couple more links and data before I make a full rant. But do you see where I'm going with this? I'm not an economist & I don't understand how budgets work but I do know two things:
1. When Reagan and Bush Sr were in office there were deficits and the economy sucked for most Americans. Now that Bush Jr is in office, the economy sucks again. Hmm.
2. When Clinton was in office, we had a balanced budget, a surplus and jobs o'plenty. Hmmmm!
There's a lot of ways you can look at these two facts but they kinda speak for themselves. And again, I suck at math and budgets so if anyone tries to hurl stuff like "But OMG the whole reason Clinton's economy was good was because of St Ronnie's blah blah blah" than.. don't even bother, because it's going to fly right over my head.
Randomness while I'm talking budget stuff... I've lived in VA since the inception of the dreaded "car tax" and every year, Republicans have been promising us they'll cut it. Except they can't get rid of it and probably never will. Why? Because the car tax is too important and provides way too much desperately needed revenue. Personally it never bothered me too much since when I did own a car, it was a cheapie that I didn't have to pay much on. Here's the people who care:
Ending the car tax was one of the most popular campaign issues in Virginia history. In 1997, it quickly caught fire in vote-rich Northern Virginia, where many families own several expensive cars, and swept Republican James S. Gilmore III into the governor's mansion.
The way I see it, if you can afford 3 Hummers that are polluting my air and forcing us into $80 billon wars, you can suck it up and pay your damn car tax. Also? Like I said before? Virginia is NEVER GETTING RID OF THE CAR TAX. Seriously. Accept it, bitches. They'll promise you every election cycle, and they'll get you all excited... but in the end, it'll still be there. Nothing is certain exept taxes and more taxes.
On a seperate note, I'm proud of the Dems standing their ground, even though it's "only delaying the inevitable". It is, really, when you get down to it. But I appreciate the gesture all the same. Btw, I would just die to have Barbara Boxer as my Senator. Maybe California isn't hopeless after all! (kidding. chill.)
ETA: Just saw this: another hostage has been taken in Iraq, and this time it's an American hostage. ::sighs:: I hope for the best but expect the worst. It's such a needless tragedy.
Record '05 Deficit - Forecast War Costs Will Raise Total to $427 Billion
Additional war spending this year will push the federal deficit to a record $427 billion for fiscal 2005, effectively thwarting President Bush's pledge to begin stanching the flow of government red ink, according to new administration budget forecasts unveiled yesterday.
Administration officials rolled out an $80 billion emergency spending request, mainly for Iraq and Afghanistan, conceding that the extra money would probably send the federal deficit above the record $412 billion recorded in fiscal 2004, which ended Sept. 30. Bush has pledged to cut the budget deficit in half by 2009, a promise the administration says it can keep. But at least for now, the government's fiscal health is worsening.
Duuuuuuuuude. DUDE! I don't understand how the GOP labels Democrats as the "free spending, fiscally irresponsible" party when every single time their party is in control, we wind up with huge fucking deficits and recessions.
Again, like I said... I'm going to dig up a couple more links and data before I make a full rant. But do you see where I'm going with this? I'm not an economist & I don't understand how budgets work but I do know two things:
1. When Reagan and Bush Sr were in office there were deficits and the economy sucked for most Americans. Now that Bush Jr is in office, the economy sucks again. Hmm.
2. When Clinton was in office, we had a balanced budget, a surplus and jobs o'plenty. Hmmmm!
There's a lot of ways you can look at these two facts but they kinda speak for themselves. And again, I suck at math and budgets so if anyone tries to hurl stuff like "But OMG the whole reason Clinton's economy was good was because of St Ronnie's blah blah blah" than.. don't even bother, because it's going to fly right over my head.
Randomness while I'm talking budget stuff... I've lived in VA since the inception of the dreaded "car tax" and every year, Republicans have been promising us they'll cut it. Except they can't get rid of it and probably never will. Why? Because the car tax is too important and provides way too much desperately needed revenue. Personally it never bothered me too much since when I did own a car, it was a cheapie that I didn't have to pay much on. Here's the people who care:
Ending the car tax was one of the most popular campaign issues in Virginia history. In 1997, it quickly caught fire in vote-rich Northern Virginia, where many families own several expensive cars, and swept Republican James S. Gilmore III into the governor's mansion.
The way I see it, if you can afford 3 Hummers that are polluting my air and forcing us into $80 billon wars, you can suck it up and pay your damn car tax. Also? Like I said before? Virginia is NEVER GETTING RID OF THE CAR TAX. Seriously. Accept it, bitches. They'll promise you every election cycle, and they'll get you all excited... but in the end, it'll still be there. Nothing is certain exept taxes and more taxes.
On a seperate note, I'm proud of the Dems standing their ground, even though it's "only delaying the inevitable". It is, really, when you get down to it. But I appreciate the gesture all the same. Btw, I would just die to have Barbara Boxer as my Senator. Maybe California isn't hopeless after all! (kidding. chill.)
ETA: Just saw this: another hostage has been taken in Iraq, and this time it's an American hostage. ::sighs:: I hope for the best but expect the worst. It's such a needless tragedy.