Posted on 02/26/2011 12:53:42 PM PST by rabscuttle385
CHAMPAIGN – Economist Douglas Holtz-Eakin said he's optimistic the United States can and will solve its problems.
But the problems he outlined Thursday – many of them budgetary – are massive and daunting.
Holtz-Eakin, director of the Congressional Budget Office from 2003 to 2005, advocated "ruthlessly pro-growth" policies during the annual Bazzani Lecture in Public Affairs on the University of Illinois campus.
(snip)
His recipe includes reforming Social Security by raising the retirement age for younger workers and putting Medicare and Medicaid "on a budget." Cuts must include defense, especially "legacy systems" that are no longer needed, he said.
(snip)
He parted company from other conservatives in endorsing a carbon tax, levied on the carbon content of fuels. He said such a tax makes sense because oil imports are "financing terrorism."
(Excerpt) Read more at news-gazette.com ...
I never wanted to partake in your Socialist InSecurity Ponzi scheme in the first place, you sick RINO traitor!
>He parted company from other conservatives in endorsing a carbon tax, levied on the carbon content of fuels.
He said such a tax makes sense because oil imports are “financing terrorism.”
And, of course, more taxes will solve that Sheesh!
Beware of the two-name people.
Beware of the two-name people.
Dang, yesterdays Washington times had a story about some con, getting a 400,000 ++ Grant of HIV-aids money, your tax dollars, which he then used to buy property and open a tiddy bar. Now you sob’s need to give up those SS checks so half- ass government employees and fools like the one given can live large.
Beware of those toting taxes as the cure all for anything.
They are NOT conservatives, they are liars.
We don't have a problem with oil imports, we have a problem with not using what we have available domestically so we can stop importing.
And that is the point - we are REQUIRED to participate. Money is excised from paychecks before we even get to touch them (except those of us who are classified as “self-employed” - then we get to pay double for the “privilege” of working...)
After 30-40 or more years of working and “contributing” to Social Security, to then be told I don’t get any of it back unless I live past most men in my family... yeah, that’s real moral.
But even better - let me opt-out and invest that money myself.
I say: Anyone over 60 as of today - they can receive the assigned benefits as currently planned, and at current levels. Everyone else - give a full refund of the money paid in, as a one-time check that can either be rolled, tax-free, into an IRA or other retirement device, or can be spent however, but with a 25% tax penalty on it.
This would cost $billions... BUT - would it be any more than what the same system will actually COST for the next 50+ years? If the Feds can pay off $billions to bankers who are corrupt and to auto companies that dug their own grave, then taxpayers should get their $ back.
No more Social Security Administration. No more government obligation to folks. And people have to be accountable for themselves and their family.
I must hate old people, minorities, and cripples... right??? Ugh.
My tombstone is going to say
“He never got a cent back form Social Security”
"Two-name" people don't require a "two post" conveyance. ; )
How is RAISING the cost to make anything, to travel, to get to work, to produce in general (which any carbon tax will inflict) going to HELP the economic recovery?
People are known by the company they Keep. John McCain likes this guy a lot... What does that say about the RINO McCain?
What does it say about Arizona voters? Are they that easy to fool?
Teachers and government workers have used up the funds to keep their precious pensions afloat.
Don't expect a thank you from them any time soon however.
Business is in the best position to pull the economy back, he said. Households and governments are financially strapped, but companies have cash on their balance sheets and healthy profit margins. They can put that money to work if given investment incentives, he said.
Unfortunately he and many other mainstream economists don't list those incentives. (It is possible that they are stated and the media does not print them.) It is very clear that the business environment is in need of an overhaul. The HC Bill and The FR Bill need to be aborted; and business taxes need to be reduced -- these would be a start.
Hey, it's "hyphenated Americans" to you, buddy!
“Beware of the two-name people.”
I am in total agreement. There should be a rule that your family needs to be worth over five billion dollars to have one.
Failing that, I always assume that persons with hyphenated names are liberal or just crazy and stupid.
What does it say about Juans former running mate and the one that helped get him reelected. Oh, the judgement call.
Point made
I hear a money-sucking sound.
From Save America Now!
Douglas Holtz-Eakin was in charge of putting together the economic platform for McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. He met with me in the summer of 2008 to discuss my ideas on the problems facing America and the methods to fix them. At the end of our discussion, he looked to me like a deer caught in the headlights. He appeared to me like he just did not want to hear any of this. A set of white papers discussing the systemic problems with the U.S. economy and potential solutions was sent to Doug from me. It did not appear to me that he used any of the information from me for the McCain campaign.
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