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ShnickyShnack wrote:

The Onion's humorous take on the issue

But in all honesty, the status quo is beyond unsustainable; it guarantees a worse economic smurf than the one we're still trying to recover from. So how come no one's yelling and screaming about it?

And what, if anything, can be done about it? Massive tax hikes? Massive spending cuts? Neither? Both?

Meanwhile, the trillions of dollars pumped into the economy over the past year would pretty much guarantee, according to mainstream economic theory, rampant inflation; what can, should and will (if anything) be done about that?

As was mentioned a while back when certain conservatives were clutching the pearls about rampant inflation...

you're just wrong. Mainstream economic theory would NOT predict rampant inflation in this case. The nature of the economic collapse would indicate deflation and the trillions pumped in, according to many economists, may not even totally offset it. We may be looking at some deflation and nobody is predicting rampant inflation at all.

Tallgeese wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

The Onion's humorous take on the issue

But in all honesty, the status quo is beyond unsustainable; it guarantees a worse economic smurf than the one we're still trying to recover from. So how come no one's yelling and screaming about it?

And what, if anything, can be done about it? Massive tax hikes? Massive spending cuts? Neither? Both?

Meanwhile, the trillions of dollars pumped into the economy over the past year would pretty much guarantee, according to mainstream economic theory, rampant inflation; what can, should and will (if anything) be done about that?

As was mentioned a while back when certain conservatives were clutching the pearls about rampant inflation...

you're just wrong. Mainstream economic theory would NOT predict rampant inflation in this case. The nature of the economic collapse would indicate deflation and the trillions pumped in, according to many economists, may not even totally offset it. We may be looking at some deflation and nobody is predicting rampant inflation at all.

Well, some are, but you're right it's not a pressing concern in the mainstream right now.

Anyway, I meant that as a side-issue ... what about the debt?

We must take up the tax!

Everyone thinks you're yelling and screaming about insurance and death panels. You better hire a publicist... oh wait, you've got Fox.

resedit wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

The Onion's humorous take on the issue

But in all honesty, the status quo is beyond unsustainable; it guarantees a worse economic smurf than the one we're still trying to recover from. So how come no one's yelling and screaming about it?

Have you heard of the Tea Party Coalition?

We are.

You're right.

Why isn't anyone doing something productive instead of just yelling and screaming about it?

Tallgeese wrote:

resedit wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

The Onion's humorous take on the issue

But in all honesty, the status quo is beyond unsustainable; it guarantees a worse economic smurf than the one we're still trying to recover from. So how come no one's yelling and screaming about it?

Have you heard of the Tea Party Coalition?

We are.

You're right.

Why isn't anyone doing something productive instead of just yelling and screaming about it?

Because the next major election does not happen until 2010.

The politicians, democrat and republican, who have forgotten that they work for us need to start working on finding their post political career book deals.

When the debt goes up and up, during so called good times, it's fine because the rising GDP supposedly makes up the difference. This means you don't have to pay down the debt, and even means you don't need to seriously curb deficit spending. It's all OK because you're rich. The number(s) say so. Only suckers and unsophisticates would work at paying off accumulated deficits during boom times.

The Onion really goes all out for those things.

Anyway, I'm going to go out and say "yelling and screaming" should really be "having a productive conversation and seeking genuine solutions." And the reason this isn't getting done is because of the Republicans.

And don't waste time with some "pot-calling-kettle-black, Democrats are bad, too," bs. Sure, there are some weak, bitchass Dems around. But it is the Republican party within which huge factions are orchestrating the birthers, the deathers, the screamers, and the Palindrones, while the remainder of the party kowtows to the stupidity or at least goes along for the ride.

Nothing productive can get done because of this, which makes the Dems' bad legislation worse, and which prevents real issues from being addressed.

And smurf the teabaggers. To pretend for a second that they have genuine policy concerns at heart is completely disingenuous. They change messages in lock step with the Limbaugh/Beck/O'Reilly talking point du jour. Their big plans of action have been to "go Galt" (which none of them did), to hold big meetings (which nobody showed up to), to stay home from work (which their employers didn't notice), and to throw teabags at the White House (which was hilarious). Back in the days of stimulus outrage, they were a completely internet phenomenon without the courage of its convictions. Now they're just tools. Astroturf.

No, the reason nothing is getting done is because it's more important to Republicans to bring down a Democratic administration lead by a black man. The strong undercurrent of racism within all of their "issues," combined with the fact that the Republicans never offer competing legislation to address any of their alleged concerns, combined with protest tactics that do nothing but destroy any hope of debate, combined with memos and emails from GOP leadership that explicitly state their goal is to break the Obama administration, should make it all painfully smurfing clear. 

If the country falls apart around us in the next 4 years, it's going to be because of the Republicans who are actively pursuing the course to make sure that happens.

Nice photo yes, shows that the people deserve this.. (with being dumb).

"Fair taxes," definitely.  Let's start by properly funding the IRS and making sure that it's staffed with the best and the brightest.  Its focus should be on the rich who dodge taxes, fail to report income accurately, and hide money away in tax shelters and offshore banks (along with those who don't pay taxes at all).

resedit wrote:

ShnickyShnack wrote:

Meanwhile, the trillions of dollars pumped into the economy over the past year would pretty much guarantee, according to mainstream economic theory, rampant inflation; what can, should and will (if anything) be done about that?

I distinctly remember making that exact same point, using Glenn Beck as a reference, and being completely ridiculed. This was during the run up to the stimulus bill being shoved down our throats.

I wasn't told it was mainstream economic theory. Instead I was told I didn't understand economic theory and that the rampant inflation wouldn't result.

Ah well.

That's because you took it to an absurd extreme, comparing it to Zimbabwe. And with all due respect, it was also very clear that you didn't actually know what you were talking about.

Personally I think the fears of rampant inflation are way overblown for the moment; indeed it was one of the things I once used to insult our clueless economic expert, freecat.

The thing that's crazy is that the money pumped into the economy is mostly borrowed money.