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0 pointsstormfather1y ago0 comments

Say what you want, but if we don't drastically cut spending, our way of life will collapse. It would be nice if Congress itself would reign in spending and downsize the government, but everyone knows that has a 0% chance of happening.

This is better hyperinflation or a violent revolution, at least, which is what it avoids for us. Anyone who doesn't see that hasn't done the thought experiment of extrapolating out our spending for a few more decades. It can't continue, period. Period. Our only choice is how to change it and our democracy (congresspuppets controlled by lobbies) fundamentally cannot fix this. Does anyone have a better idea that will actually work?

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ModernMech1y ago

I would agree with you if the people slashing spending indiscriminately on things that poor people rely on, also didn't have a history of and weren't currently planning to yet again give the rich and corporations massive tax cuts that have and will balloon the federal deficit.

My idea? Raise taxes. I know, it's radical and literally no one has ever thought of it, but we tried lowering taxes and the deficit goes up. So maybe if we raise taxes the deficit will go down.

stormfatherOP1y ago

Do you see a popular mandate for raising taxes materializing? Do you see Congress enacting that? I don't. Like you said, you're not the first to think of it, but it never happens.

As imperfect as DOGE is, its the only measure I can see actually happening that has a shot at cutting the deficit. I would love to think of another one.

ModernMech1y ago

Yes, I see a popular mandate materializing, absolutely. There are very few but absurdly rich people standing in the way. It's happened in the past, and it will happen in the future.

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fallingfrog1y ago

I think that we should cut the amount of money going towards superyachts and 10,000 dollar bottles of wine, rather than education, infrastructure and healthcare. Which do you imagine will lead to a healthier economy in the long run?

Because when you cut taxes on the super wealthy, you are effectively taking money away from education and infrastructure and allocating it towards superyachts.

stormfatherOP1y ago

Ok so let's raise taxes on the wealthy. I think that's great and am in total agreement.

How long do you think we should wait for Congress to significantly raise taxes on the rich? How confident are you that will ever happen? Have you seen a graph of the national debt? How long do you think we have to wait? Why oppose cutting spending now? That's not in conflict with raising taxes for the wealthy, both should be done.

fallingfrog1y ago

If we start by cutting services to the public, the tax hikes on the rich are 100% guaranteed to never happen. And then after several years the economy declines, and inequality increases, and tax revenues go down, rinse, repeat and eventually you end up where we are now.

Why is making the public suffer considered fair game but making the super wealthy pay their share politically inconceivable?

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0 pointsstormfather1y ago0 comments

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ModernMech1y ago

My idea? Raise taxes. I know, it's radical and literally no one has ever thought of it, but we tried lowering taxes and the deficit goes up. So maybe if we raise taxes the deficit will go down.

stormfatherOP1y ago

Do you see a popular mandate for raising taxes materializing? Do you see Congress enacting that? I don't. Like you said, you're not the first to think of it, but it never happens.

As imperfect as DOGE is, its the only measure I can see actually happening that has a shot at cutting the deficit. I would love to think of another one.

ModernMech1y ago

Yes, I see a popular mandate materializing, absolutely. There are very few but absurdly rich people standing in the way. It's happened in the past, and it will happen in the future.

1 more reply

fallingfrog1y ago

Because when you cut taxes on the super wealthy, you are effectively taking money away from education and infrastructure and allocating it towards superyachts.

stormfatherOP1y ago

Ok so let's raise taxes on the wealthy. I think that's great and am in total agreement.

fallingfrog1y ago

Why is making the public suffer considered fair game but making the super wealthy pay their share politically inconceivable?

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse