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Why S&P Really Downgraded US Credit Rating (vanity but linked to their report)
S&P PDF Official Document ^ | 6 Aug 2011 | S&P and SkyPilot

Posted on 08/06/2011 4:04:09 AM PDT by SkyPilot

As I was watching the "spin" on MSNBC, CNN, and almost every other cable show last night regarding S&Ps decision to downgrade the soverign US credit rating for the first time in our nation's history, it was amazing to me that every liberal commentator and every Democrat appearing on the shows avoided the monster in the room at all costs:

ENTITLEMENTS

Entitlements are breaking the back of this nation. During the debt deal and its aftermath, Democrats made it clear they would not budge (or even address) the crippling effects of Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security.

S&P's report did - right up front. In fact, it mentions Entitlements as the biggest problem.

Funny how the Lamestream Media missed that language, considering it is on the front page of the PDF document that S&P released on Friday night.

_____________________________________________________________________

Rationale

We lowered our long-term rating on the U.S. because we believe that the prolonged controversy over raising the statutory debt ceiling and the related fiscal policy debate indicate that further near-term progress containing the growth in public spending, especially on entitlements, or on reaching an agreement on raising revenues is less likely than we previously assumed and will remain a contentious and fitful process. We also believe that the fiscal consolidation plan that Congress and the Administration agreed to this week falls short of the amount that we believe is necessary to stabilize the general government debt burden by the middle of the decade. ...Despite this year's wide-ranging debate, in our view, the differences between political parties have proven to be extraordinarily difficult to bridge, and, as we see it, the resulting agreement fell well short of the comprehensive fiscal consolidation program that some proponents had envisaged until quite recently. Republicans and Democrats have only been able to agree to relatively modest savings on discretionary spending while delegating to the Select Committee decisions on more comprehensive measures. It appears that for now, new revenues have dropped down on the menu of policy options. In addition, the plan envisions only minor policy changes on Medicare and little change in other entitlements, the containment of which we and most other independent observers regard as key to long-term fiscal sustainability. Our opinion is that elected officials remain wary of tackling the structural issues required to effectively address the rising U.S. public debt burden.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aaa; downgrade; sp
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To: NTHockey

All excellent ideas...that will never see the light of day.


41 posted on 08/06/2011 5:49:26 AM PDT by P8riot (I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.....Eagle Scout since Sep 9, 1970)
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To: maine-iac7

It’s not “private”. Jees your acting like government is benevolent.


42 posted on 08/06/2011 5:49:33 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: VaRepublican

How much have you currently received, I will get nothing as I continueto “invest”.


43 posted on 08/06/2011 5:50:54 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: SkyPilot

Didn’t see it last night but I’m waiting for a liberal pundit to arrive at the conclusion that S&P is a racist/terrorist organization.


44 posted on 08/06/2011 5:57:24 AM PDT by Don@VB (Power Corrupts)
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To: maine-iac7
Of course people should also get interest, sorry I should of been more explicit.

The goal is to end the bleeding, yes... it would cost the government a fortune to issue checks = all everyone ever paid into the SS and medicare system + interest, but at least then the programs could be ended and the financial healing could start.

45 posted on 08/06/2011 5:59:35 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama = Epic Fail)
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To: maine-iac7

So, the people who started receiving it in the 1940s paid into it for 50 years?

It’s not insurance...never has been.

Either Social Security and Medicare will be means-tested, or the government will go bankrupt. Those are the choices. It’s looking like it’ll probably be the latter.


46 posted on 08/06/2011 6:00:56 AM PDT by B Knotts (Just another Tenther)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

sometimes to save the patient... you have to remove an arm or leg.


47 posted on 08/06/2011 6:02:34 AM PDT by TexasFreeper2009 (Obama = Epic Fail)
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To: SF_Redux
SS is a Ponzi scheme, it works as long as more people are paying into it than taking withdrawals. That has reversed itself as the baby boomers came on stream as recipients ... they paid into it for years so feel entitled. Many were under the impression their contributions were being carefully shepherded (invested) by government and upon reaching retirement age it would be available to withdraw. Now reality has set in ... the U.S. government makes Bernard Madoff look like a pauper when it comes to the Ponzi scheme business.
48 posted on 08/06/2011 6:02:34 AM PDT by BluH2o
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To: VaRepublican
Missed the whole point, didn't you -

“jees?”

Jeeze.

49 posted on 08/06/2011 6:04:39 AM PDT by maine-iac7 (I AM ISRAEL)
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To: SkyPilot

bm


50 posted on 08/06/2011 6:05:52 AM PDT by Vision ("Did I not say to you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40)
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To: BluH2o

let me see if I can be more clear ..

ONLY THE PEOPLE WHO PAID/PAY IN SHOULD COLLECT

can it be said any simpler?


51 posted on 08/06/2011 6:08:51 AM PDT by SF_Redux (Sarah stands for accountablility and personal responsiblity, democrats can't live with that)
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To: maine-iac7
Well I guess so and please stop correcting my grammar. JEES!
52 posted on 08/06/2011 6:38:51 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: PieterCasparzen

I’d like to see all of the waste, like perks for fat cat beauracrats be cut first. I’m sure as big as the gov’t is, there are efficiecies that could be made too. It’s like in IL, they cut programs instead of cutting all the B.S. spending that goes on. Private planes, cars, fat paychecks for friends,etc. It’s all politics; make the voters mad whenever someone even mentions making budget cuts. Politics and glands have trumped public service.


53 posted on 08/06/2011 6:41:29 AM PDT by virgil
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To: SkyPilot

Just to be precise, S&P is talking about Unemployment, SS, Medicare, i.e. programs you pay into and get a benefit based upon the amount you paid in.

Not Food Stamp (now called SNAP)
Not Medicaid
Not AFDC
Not daycare cash payments
Not nutitional assistance
Not special minority loans for business
Not Section 8 housing

It’s because Americans think they earned these things by working and paying in that it makes politicians so reluctant to cut them.


54 posted on 08/06/2011 7:00:50 AM PDT by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: SF_Redux

Again, No! the system is dead. I do not want your govt money. I have “paid in” for 30 + years, just go away, leave me alone and let me do with MY money what I want. I am tired of supporting everyone else.


55 posted on 08/06/2011 7:01:34 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: VaRepublican

ok guess my quotes did not werk. that “werk” for was the english major who wants to coRect ma grammar


56 posted on 08/06/2011 7:04:04 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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To: TexasFreeper2009

That would immediately bankrupt our country. The money they paid in has been spent.


57 posted on 08/06/2011 7:12:54 AM PDT by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: maine-iac7

The money they paid in has been spent. It’s gone.


58 posted on 08/06/2011 7:15:03 AM PDT by MontaniSemperLiberi (Moutaineers are Always Free)
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To: sodpoodle

Well, it is trending that way (as you describe in your first paragraph). Michele Bachmann heads the Tea Party Caucus, so she is definitely a Tea Party leader in DC. So is DeMint, who was so instrumental in getting some of these people elected. It is everything but a party at this point. But more powerful for not being an official party. It’s just us patriots.


59 posted on 08/06/2011 7:17:19 AM PDT by firebrand (It's obscene that we have not yet impeached Obama. Can we do it now? Now?)
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To: maine-iac7
what the he!! did I miss? you paid into a corrupt system and now you get no return? Oh wait if you are of a senior age then you have reaped sumthing that you have sowed. misplell on purpose cause I'm young and stupid. I will pay into this “system for my entire life and receive nothing!!!!!
60 posted on 08/06/2011 7:20:06 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how. But bloggers do.)
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