It's in the bank's and wall street's interest to scare people. They know this isn't a meltdown - but they want another fire-sale.

They want people scared but not angry.

To be honest, I'm a little scared AND A LOT ANGRY!

The nation's financial alert status has been raised to FinanceCON IV.

All those "evil rich" are scared sheissless they are going to lose their own money- they could give a rat's behind about taxing the crap out of the rest of us.

Its time to vote these people out of office and or recall congress members...

We need term limits established.

Crystal-569996

All those "evil rich" are scared sheissless they are going to lose their own money- they could give a rat's behind about taxing the crap out of the rest of us.

Um, excuse me? Anyone with a 401k or any kind of retirement savings will get clobbered by these Repulbicans.

I guess you are not one of the rich Tea Party people.

A lot of the redneck sheeples being abused by the rich Tea Party people don't save any money. Therefore, they won't get hurt, and can actually egg on these freshmen idiots in the house.

To Bad bob 533....Fools like you make people like me rich! When a deal is struck, which it will, all the fools who sold the bank stocks down, so I and other smart money can buy on the cheap, will watch us make a lot of money. I have done this many times as the ignorant masses of sheeple run scared on rumor and lack of any investing sense. The rich will always be rich because the rich are smart. The poor are stupid. This is what is known as an inconvenient truth.

Code Red is right. I work for one of the largest banks in the US in global network operations. We have a freeze on all changes to the network...especially those that involve monitoring of treasury trades, Govt debt and equities...until we find out if we crash and burn now or later.

Code Red is right. I work for one of the largest banks in the US in global network operations. We have a freeze on all changes to the network...especially those that involve monitoring of treasury trades, Govt debt and equities...until we find out if we crash and burn now or later.

I'm tired of bitching soooo..........Hooray! Yippy! I'm glad! Bring it on! Just end it already! Good or Bad, just end it! The suspence is killing me! LOL! This is really funny seeing people getting so upset about things they have no control over. LOL!

George Soros is getting set for his Triumph. Guaranteed, his evil ways will be exposed.

Bruin Bud: Wouldn't you just love to emulate his evil ways?

Let's make it the END OF THE WORLD now! More ratings! More hysteria!

Get a grip people, this is a MANUFACTURED crises!

USA is still great. It's the U.S. Congress and Special Interest Lobbyists that are the '#!?/(&$' crazy ones.

Oh the irony:

The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a
sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the US Government cannot pay
its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial
assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless
fiscal policies. Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically
and internationally. Leadership means that the buck stops here.
Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the
backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a
failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."

- Senator Barack H. Obama, March 2006

Quoted
in National Review Online as well as Huffington Post.

hang on there Crystal,

When did the economy crash and inspire candidate McCain to shut down his campaign and rush off to Washington to consult about the crisis? Obama was right then, and he is right now. Defaulting on the debt limit is crazy now... continuing out current level of spending is also crazy, but can be addressed over time.

I wonder why the biggest deficits and big debts are always created by the autocratic, wealthy lovers republicans.

Reagan doubled the deficit, deregulated savings and loans and they collapsed costing the tax payers 500 billions. Bush left one Trillion in debt but really all together was almost 4 trillion...so who created the problems? People who do not believe in governing but only in corporate welfare...as the proofs are in subsidies to Oil, Big Pharma, and many other Corporations as tax write off and loop holes and finally Big farmers...corn syrup is subsidized you know? reason you will find it on all food and it is making you sick.

Of course we do not want to take money from the thieves to feed the poor children in school, god forbid...

In the future children will have republicans for president so they can also starve along side their unemployed parents.

McCain wanted to go to Washington at the beginning of the meltdown, but narcissistic Obama said no, he could multitask and wanted to continue the debates.

The biggest deficits have occured while the Democrats controlled the Senate and the House. Reagan's deficits were nothing compared to Obama's. Savings and Loans collapsed because of banking deregulation that occured during the admin before Reagan. Bush couldn't leave anything without the Democrat controlled Congress passing it first.

What other history would you like to attempt to rewrite. Remember what was shouted out to Obama in Congress? You are that.

Look at liberal California, they are really in the toilet, nothing to do with Republicans. The liberals want to feel benevolent with other people's money, they create sanctuary cities for illegals, build ridiculously expensive schools, encourage people to go on government entitlements to have time to be "artistic", etc.

Crystal-569996

McCain wanted to go to Washington at the beginning of the meltdown, but narcissistic Obama said no,

McCain's visit to Washington, to "save the day" almost caused the Second Great depression. He distracted things, in the name of his campaign, and nearly blew up the world.

and then had nothing to add or contribute because he didn't know what the hell he was doing ...He'd been on the campaign trail, not involved in negotiations...it was nothing but a show and it was a disaster...It was one of McCain's biggest mistakes of a campaign filled with them...

He did it around the time that he told everyone, "the USA economy is resilient"

What a tar-rar-ra-doon-deyay

I think I know that tune.

Is this the "CHANGE" Obama promissed us? Some "CHANGE"eh?

What ever happened to Obama's "WE CAN DO IT"? LOL!

He's still cleaning up Bush's mess that he left behind. He cost the U.S. nearly 3 Trillion dollars during his 8 years in office. I'm willing to give Obama another 4 years to continue cleaning this mes up.

"The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da"

"Grandmas sit in chairs and reminisce
Boys keep chasing girls to get a kiss
The cars keep going faster all the time
Bums still cry "hey buddy, have you got a dime"

Nothing quite like "System Failure !"

The main point is we NEED to tax the rich appropriately. Currently they get out of most taxes due to loopholes put in the tax code by their friends, like GW Bush who deregulated as much as he could, then left office just as we entered the worst recession/depression since the "Great Depression" of the '30's (also begun when a Republican, Hoover, was President...he did NOTHING...explaining capitalism would "handle it" while people literally came close to starvation. FDR, a Democrat, got in office and was proactive like no other President before or since. But he got people jobs/ food/ housing....I know that is ancient history but its very applicable to todays' situation.)

Only instead of the "average" person supporting Obama (as FDR was supported, except by "the rich") they've been so brainwashed they cannot see what is in their own best interest. Cut social security, cut funding for schools, cut help to the poorest and the disabled....that's what the teabags want.....

Do they even know or care that the ORIGINAL Boston Teaparty was against "taxation without representation" NOT just "no taxes. BIG difference. Knowing some minimal history is helpful....but the schools in the U.S. have been falling behind those of other nations for years and years...see stats on that if you don't believe me, google it...

And Obama is handicapped, I think, by his skin color. Despite what a lot of people who dislike/distrust him say, a lot falls to simple racism.

you have hit every nail right on the head. I think bigotry is alive and well in this wonderful country of ours

I agree.

Hey Crystal where was all this talk when your great and noble pres. Bush raised the debt ceiling 7 times during his presidency, where was all this talk when Reagan raised it 18 times during his. In fact many of the same republican senators and congressmen WERE IN OFFICE when Bush raised it 7 times in the last decade.

Now a dem gets elected and all of a sudden its "the buck stops here". Can you say HYPOCRISY!!

@MtMike, I take it by your 'get a job, plan and take responsibility...' statement that you think the unemployed, SSI recipients, or people that are recieving some other goverment help are the reason the economy is the mess its in, and thats why US debt is so high. Is that a fair asessment of your comment? If thats what your saying, you need too simmer down, because thats not why the economy is the tank. Stop blaming people that are finacially down and out in this economy, and need help, for US debt.

I'm assuming by your being down on entitlements, that your willing to turn down your social security check when your reach retirement age. Is that correct? Probably not. Also, what if you get hurt and won't be able to work for the rest of your life. You going to turn down that SSI disabiltiy check? I think not. Or what if you get laid from your job (I'm assuming you have one..)? Are you going to turn unemployment benefits? I can answer that. Probably not. Your going to be standing in the unemployment line with the rest of us.

It is very difficult, Mt. Mike, for the Democrats to pass anything when the Republicans want to filibuster to get their way even as they are doing now relative to the issue of raising the debt ceiling. So don't blame Obama! If you want to blame somebody, blame those rigid, self-righteous, T-Republicans who think they have all the truth and that God will bail them out if they stand by their dogmatic principles come hell or high water. Besides, it is difficult for anyone, much less Obama, to deal with people who are not rationale, do not want to compromise and engage in dysfunctional behavior to get everything their way.

If they continue to persist in their authoritarian ways, you and I will experience one of the biggest depressions we have ever seen. And it will not be Obama's fault. Unfortunately, something has happened in our government were now the minority can control the majority. That's the reality. That was not the way it used to be when moderate Republicans use to be in office and we had more sane, reasonable people who would be willing to compromise from both parties and solve problems. Things got done in Washington on a bipartisan basis because the minority did not continuously control the majority with one filibuster after another as we are seeing this being played out right before our eyes in the issue of the debt ceiling.

MtMike, the only place we lack leadership is in the House of Representatives.

its time we the people the working people take hold of our lives. instead of washington playing games with our money and lives. we need jobs and education for our children not promises.

I agree, this mess is not and was not created by the unemployed, seniors, or any other recipient of so called entitlement funds. First, chances are if you are receiving a check for any of these funds you paid into these programs. You paid for each out of every pay check you earned. Second, you are not getting a free ride just because you are collecting. Third, congress took money from these programs to fund other initatives. So who the heck is anyone to say the people who paid into these programs do not deserve their money? Now if anyone thinks that the so called baby boomers are going to drain these programs think again. I know many who are delaying retirement because they cannot afford to retire...THEY CANNOT AFFORD TO RETIRE for two good reasons. One they are currently unemployed/underemployed so the amount they would need is not earned. Second, unemployed/underemployed workers do not contribute to their retirement funds thus these funds lose in growth. The baby boomers I know are delaying retirement for at least another five to six years. So GOP/Tea Party loud mouths who do you think your kidding?

Our current economic mess is due to bad policies that voters were indifferent to as long as they were untouched. We now have more people affected by the very policies that many endorsed. One example is deregulation that dare I say it allowed the cat to mind the many chicken houses. As for Boehner get real...you did not bend over backwards especially for your constituents or voters. You and your fellow GOP/Tea Party members blocked any voters from e-mailing or calling you to express their support for a balanced approach. You may think you can claim the people you heard from support your position...not true. You and your fellow GOP/Tea Party members are nothing more then cons pure and simple. You each are a disgrace to this nation and it's people.

Lesson one time, GOP is trying to save this country from default. Yes I drawn SS

as of right now, but how long. The Demo's got the debt and want to spend more, more that we don't have. When are the spenders going to realize there is no money.

Including you.

needajob2

Why is it so difficult for so many to understand, that social security, even though you may have paid in, has no funds available. Social Security has been robbed, stolen from by government.

Social Security is a ponzi scheme, where one pays in a amount, but is allowed to draw out MORE, based on more payers coming in to the system. That equation no longer works. America now has MORE TAKERS than PAYERS.

I own my own business. I have never trusted government. Because I own my own business, I must live and operate within my revenue. I could add and subtract and planned for the future.

I could see that when only 50% of America pays Federal Taxes and the government spends more than taxes bring in, the US was in fiscal trouble, it was just a matter of time of when (maybe Osama bin Laden was smarter than you think).

I have no intention of drawing on my social security, plus, I did not think social security would be there or be enough to live on if it was there.

I planned my life and worked accordingly. I am not a "programmed sheep" who believes what the thieves in Washington tell you. I can add and subtract and plan my own life accordingly.

Good luck - I hope you have made plans for when your system collapses and you can not rely on the "system". (guns, ammo, food, water, fuel, housing)

Bill C-645784

The US Senate has not passed a budget for over 2 years now, actually almost 3 years (Harry Reid, and the Dems).

The place the US lacks leadership from is the US Senate and the President.

Obama and the Dems had control of all three legs of Government for 2 years and failed to pass a budget. Whose fault was that?

In the 2010 election, America spoke and demanded a change of government direction.

The 50% of Americans who pay Federal Taxes, are tired of watching government, bailout, entitle, enable, print money, start presidential police engagements, government waste, government duplicity, and want their tax dollars managed better.

It is time America realized, they are not too big too fail!

get a job you say, are you hiring, i am a teacher and noone is hiring here, I'd leave but my house is underwater, I had retirement savings which is all but gone, living on it since before Obama came into office so he can't be blamed , I'd love to have a full time job

I hope you never get sick! You'll be Screwed! When I was 38 I was diagnosed as having a viral infection that destroyed my heart (Congestive Heart Failure). I was given six months to live...that was in 2003. I wouldn't be alive today if it wasn't for Medicare! I was looking at having to pay $3000 a month for health insurance otherwise! As it is I pay nearly $500 a month for the gap coverage!

What are these tea party cretons talking about? didn't produce a budget in 2 years? robbed 50% of taxpayer? There were budgets both years. Only 53% of americans are in the workforce, the other 47% are retired or too young. And everyone in the work force pays social security taxes, so nobody gets off for free. These TPers are freaking idiots. Mathmatically, historically, economically stupid and allergic to facts. (Just put down the remote and step away from Fox news channel....slowly, slowly) There is no arguing with these zealots. We need to smash them at the polls next time and send them back into the uneducated ooze from which they crawled. We need to end this tyranny of ignorance. Not since McCarthyism has there been such a mindless, lock step march into dangerous lunacy. But, we beat back that single-minded, mal-informed menace to democacy and decency, we can do it again. If we actually experience a Republican default on our debt, the GOP is done. RIP, GOP.

lkaw56

Change professions - I was a PGA Club Professional, (a terrible occupation) where I was dependent on my "masters", even though I owned my own golf shop and paid my own help, I started Recycled Golf Balls, I now own a lodge in Alaska - I am hiring in Alaska - you are not entitled to a standard of living, you have to be smart enough, competitive enough to earn it.

Life is, and always has been, survival of the fittest.

Markjcfa

What planet have you been on? There has been no budget under Obama and the Dems. Do you not remember the fiscal fight just completed in 2011 to approve the deficit spending of 2010 and 2009?

What I remember from 2006 to date is the GOP for two years, 2006-2008 voting no on every democrat sponsored bill and their President Bush vetoing anything that got through the house and senate. Then from 2008 to date, they voted consistently no against everything put to the vote as well as the five GOP implants from their party misrepresenting themselves as democrats and party line voting with the conservatives against every democrat bill put before them thus negating the democrat majority.

What I found arrogant and naive was that the conservatives made it blatantly clear even before the current President's inauguration, that they intended to do absolutely nothing for the country out of spite and would do everything in their power to destroy the incoming administration even before it was sworn in.

In their arrogance, this naive party actually believes they will defeat the President in 2012 but just like everything else their party represents, they are still divided and undecided about just who it will be that they are so sure as of now that will defeat Obama. They have the audacity to say the democrats haven't a clue, but yet it is their own party that actually has no clue as to what is going on at this point in time even within their very own ranks.

The problems we face today are
there
because the people who work
for a living are outnumbered by those
who vote
for a
living.

Crystal: now that you've got your T bag talking point out...get serious. The baby boomers are beginning to retire and they're a huge block of folks...have outnumbered surrounding generations since they arrived...and you want to claim that generation isn't working? I don't know what planet you inhabit, but on this one..they worked their butts off. Just another uneducated hater who dares to call themselves an American but hates everything this country stands for.

MtMike-571674

Good luck - I hope you have made plans for when your system collapses and you can not rely on the "system". (guns, ammo, food, water, fuel, housing)

Don't forget chewing tobacco, moonshine, Nascar jacket, miniature plastic jesus...

Crystal-569996

The problems we face today are
there
because the people who work
for a living are outnumbered by those
who vote
for a
living.

I think the real problem is letting people vote that can't tie their shoes without advice from Fox news.

Most people get thier advice/news from Fox News! All of the other networks can't even touch thier ratings, never have and never will! Obama's approval is at an all time low. He is in wayyy over his head, has sold us out, and is destroying our economy with his socialist policies. Now, since the demodonkeys won't cut spending, and want to raise taxes in this economy, they have assured us fiscally responsible conservatives/independents a landslide victory in 2012! Thank You....btw Crystal 569996 you are spot on. See you at the polls Mr. Soros. Sucks when your ship is sinking. We will take America back and put us back to the economic powerhouse we used to be. ROTFLMAO!!!!

And, corporations enjoy tax loopholes. Remember GE. Can we ever get them to pay?

retired '08

Ask Obama about GE and their campaign donations to Obama, it is Obama's time to lead, all we are hearing from Obama is you got to compromise, my way!!

Funny,the GE and Obama relationship isn't it! Obama.....I just don't get him. He is more concerned today about what the fuel mileage the automakers need to achieve than the debt crisis! He needs to be a leader now, but he has proven he has no leadership skills at all. At this election, we have everything on record about him. I can't wait until the debates when he gets taken to task on all his failed policies and total lack of leadership one would expect from a USA President. He gets his marching orders from Mr. Soros. His media empire is what got him elected. Soros could spend all of his fortune on Obama's re-election and he will still lose. WE know who he is this time and believe me, America is awake and sincerely pissed off.

In Greece, people take to the streets to protest reform, in the US, they take to the internet,..

why are we still supporting ww2?(income taxes)

Mt Mike : In one of your previous posts you said "America is in for a rude awakening". You are way behind, at least as far as we democrats are concerned. Most of us rise by 10:00 to 11:00 am. Have a few drinks then stagger to work, at least those of us who work. Look for any opposite gender we like, and try to work up a sexual deal. Afterward we consume enough alcohol and/or drugs to become stoned, but not out of our minds, since we don't have much mind to begin with. After the mail arrives and we collect our daily government doles we really begin to show our sorry side. All the while though, we are awake. Now we commence with the rudness. Hell, we might even loaf around and rob a bank or commit a burglary. Point is, we already are a pack of rude sum-bitches. This is what your type think of responsible people. We know you are making these accusations based on your own behavior. Every time you do you are shooting yourself in your own ass.

mtMike,

Obama and the Dems had control of all three legs of Government for 2 years and failed to pass a budget. Whose fault was that?

There are plenty of articles out there discussing these budgets, so I don't know where you are getting this information.

Also, they may have had the majority, but unless you have 60 votes in the senate nowadays, the republicans will filibuster every f***ing thing that comes through. They had 60 votes for about 2 months.

Budget bills are governed under special rules called "Reconciliation" which do not allow filibusters.

A knowledge of the rules is a plus when discussing Congress... see http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/Filibuster

AC Robertson: this article and many others state that Senator McConnell threatened to filibuster Majority Leader Reid's debt crisis bill just Friday night: http://hamptonroads.com/2011/07/us-senate-kills-gopbacked-bill-raise-debt-ceiling

I believe you're mistaken in this case, because this may not be a "budget bill" as per your definition. My understanding is that the extraordinarily common process of raising the debt ceiling normally has nothing to do with the actual "budget" process.

Jay

I watched the hearing when the bill was voted down...

Reid changed the rules to allow a majority vote to shelve the bill, which usually requires a 60+vote to succeed...

I saw Reid ask if the bill was going to be filibustered, but I must have been asleep when any Republican said anything about a filibuster...

Reid/Democrats have yet to floor any bill of their own, 850+days and counting...

Maybe the Republicans could have filibustered, sense Reid was busy CHANGING the Senate Rules anyway...

To Ac Robertson, Reconciliation won't work because this is NOT a budget bill.

Jay in Atlanta& freckles-538211: You are both correct. A. C. Robertson, as usual is wrong.

You mean the spend budget?

Our incompetent POTUS and Senate are the cause of the crisis we are in. Try doing some fact finding. Obama has made Bush look frugal! Do you know how much he has spent so far?? What about GE? Why does Brazil get to drill off our shores, yet our oil companies can't? You will have to....I know this will be hard for you...venture off of this website and do some fact finding on other websites. WAKE UP!

MTpatriot69, I urge you to follow your own advice, because those sound like some extraordinarily partisan talking points from "other websites."

This President has spent $1.7 trillion amortized over an 8-year period (through 2017). President Bush spent $5.7 trillion when amortized over an 8-year period. Further, the costs of the Bush tax cuts (16% of which total package benefited 2% of the population) amount to more than Obama has spent so far. (Source) We'll still be paying off those tax cuts that began during war time [and were therefore unfunded borrowing] for years, so the President Bush figure is actually lowballing.

The best thing in the article above, should you choose to view it, is the chart showing the extraordinary amount of new spending under President Bush, versus the paltry amount of new spending under Obama.

Sure, President Obama decided to act quickly -- as mandated by his election -- to save jobs at the state level (teachers, firefighters, etc.), as well as save 1,000,000 jobs associated with the US auto industry. But did you know that President Obama has actually cut one dollar in taxes for every dollar spent on a government program? (source)

As for drilling off our coasts, the President made what I consider a wise decision to halt drilling until January, 2011, at which point it resumed. On the resumption of drilling, the White House spokesman said: "Any offshore drilling taking place in the United States must meet the rigorous new safety standards put in place since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill." (source. Oh, and Obama never signed this Brazilian thing; it was actually Bush's appointee who funded Brazilian oil exploration to the tune of $2 billion; that source is here.)

(Hint: even after causing devastating damage to the Gulf, the oil companies have an astoundingly excellent lobbying arm which worked with Congress to made them immune from new environmental review after drilling was reinstated in January. Meanwhile, the oil companies are making fantastic profits AND keeping their tax breaks, thanks to the GOP. Yipee.)

Now, back to your point. The President of the United States is not incompetent. The Senate is not "the cause of the crisis we are in," considering that the crisis was entirely manufactured by Republicans in the House. When I say manufactured, I mean created as a political tool by the same people who raised the debt ceiling for President Bush 7 times (and some of the same people who raised it for Reagan 15 times). They've now decided not to raise it to pay for the bills that Obama had mostly inherited from President Bush's administration.

Jay

Amen Luvboxer!!

It is obvious the democrats are afraid to include 'balancing the budget' as long as our free spending President is in office! We need leaders, but so far I don't see any!

The president doesn't spend money -- Congress does. You might not like Obama, but you can't blame him for spending the money that Congress gives him.

Yes it is true that the President can't 'spend money', but he had no problem getting Congress to spend what he wanted until the 2010 elections!

@luvboxer:

You don't deserve more than what you paid into it though!

Not sure what age group you are referring to as being selfish, but I am 32 years old and a single mother AND a Federal employee who only makes 36K a year...and I cry and worry every day about the future of my children in this world, especially now with the way things are going...so just like you don't like people to say that you aren't entitled to your benefits; I don't like being called selfish when the only thing I worry about and care about in my life is the wellbeing and future of my two young children.

You don't deserve your benefits. I bet if you looked at what you paid in versus what you are getting out, your return would be many times greater than what you would have received from traditional investment. So I expect to be thanked for giving you my hard earned money that I will never see. But instead I get the finger from a crusty old bitter person.

Not sure what age group you are referring to luvboxer, but I am a 32 year old single mother of 2 children AND a Federal employee who earns only 36K a year (yet I make too much money according to everyone in the world) and I am by far NOT selfish...I am more concerned about my children's future and what may not be available to them because of our @!$%#ty ass government. So please, just as you don't want people thinking you don't deserve what you have "paid into", don't degrade us "young" people and think of us all as selfish. I could care less about my future...but my children deserve a better future then what is in the works now.

You don't deserve more than what you paid into it though!

Plus compounded interest! Here's a thought. Eliminate my SS but give me what I paid into it for 39 years, plus interest.

I am 54 yrs. old and probably considered by many to be somewhat over the hill. Since my children were young, I have had the fun of my life working with youth organizations. I saw many, many good kids while involved with those groups. I now work with college engineering students at my place of employment and find most of them to much more responsible than I was at their age. Same thing goes for my own children who have worked since they were 16 and continue to work and attend college. They were lucky. My wife and I had the resources to help them with their college costs; but, they still went to work in the summers to pay for clothes, transportations, etc.

Don't put down the younger generations. If you spend any time at all with those youth who get up every morning just to make enough money to pay for the next semester, you would see that they are hard working, responsible young adults. You would also find that the future is in good hands. I think the future is bright. It certainly can't get any worse than what some in our generation have done.

@Astyanax,

Do you think that people who get SS get A LOT of $$$$ ? Reality check.. they don't!! I am a younger person who does NOT receive any help from the gov't, but I know plenty of senior citizens who do, and let me tell you... almost ALL of them struggle to make ends meet every month! Most of them have to choose between medications or food, food or bills. These people paid into the system for their entire working lives and they deserve what they put in PLUS interest.

I doubt social security will be there when I am old enough to retire.

i don't know what age group luvboxer is talking about either, but i do know that there are a lot of late teens and early twentys who would rather sit on their butts and sponge off the american taxpayers than to get a job. how do i know this. i see it every year about the end of january when tax returns start being accepted by IRS. i mean they come into the tax office with their $2,000 worth of w-2s, a 1099 (usually for their parents of friends hand written) for just enough that when added to their w-2s is enough to max out the earned income credit and swear that they support themselves and their two or three children on that amount. the least amount you can make for 2010 with three children to max out the EIC was 12551. there is no way you can support yourself and three children on this amount. you may not call this selfish but it sure is greedy

It's all about how one was raised. I evidently waas raised right and at times wish I could get some assistance financially due to the fact that I skip meals often just to make sure my kids eat, but according to the government, I make too much money for any assistance...I am a survivor though...and a young 30-something, unselfish survivor. I pray for everyone in this country dealing with this damned government we have and certainly wouldn't bash anyone cause of their age group. I was just trying to make the point that not ALL Young people are selfish and greedy.

My husband is also 69 and I follow very close behind him. We have both worked all of lives, we would love to be able to get back in the work force, unfortunately physically we're done. Do you think we really want social security, hell no, we wish we could work again.

The only advice I have for you young people is work as long as you can, work as hard as you can, save as much as you can, enjoy life as much as you can, because it all does end.

jgbiggs: what a whiner. What jobs have you created? What have you contributed? I'm guessing your self interest cancels out everything else you might have or will ever achieve. Geez, I'm SO glad you are not representative of your generation.

No one is whinning, your a jerk, its idiot like you who create the nasty enviroment we live in today. Have a nice day.

To the person who referred to the elderly who get SS as "crusty old people"....thats an interesting stereotype....Do you KNOW anyone who lives solely on SS? I do....and its barely enough to survive on. Many women who were stay at home moms (with their husband's agreement, or sometimes insistance) get almost nothing from SS. I know a 75 yr old woman, a widow, with many health issues, who still has to work to survive. No other "first world" or industrialized nation would allow this. Go to google and look up pics of some of the homes of richest people in the U.S.... or Hollywood stars, NBA players, etc, etc...They have accountants, attornies who keep them safe from paying their fair share of taxes. It has little to do with the "mean old senior citizens" taking all that gigantic SS money, and MUCH more to do with the super rich KEEPING all they get. After the big crash in '08, it ended up if you recall with none of the big companies who had helped cause the crash having to pay back anything...while their executives took home bonuses in the 6 figures....that was only their BONUS not their pay. But people want to blame the elderly, the schoolkids, and the disabled....????

Obama walked into office just as the crash began and took the blame for it from people who don't know any better.

Fox news....its been said by more than a few that if multi-billionaire Rupert Murdoch (the owner) thought he could make more money pushing an extreme left wing agenda on a TV station he'd switch in a heartbeat, and so would most of the FOX staff, though some are "true believers". He (Murdoch) is, after all, an Australian who got rich with the sex oriented tabloids in England....in the U.S he found a different public interest and went for it.....politics and paranoia mixed, and whenever possible a sexy/scary story like Natalie Holloway to be carried on for MONTHS as if it was a major world shaking event. (NOT that I don't feel badly for her and her family). But Murdoch does whatever makes money. Period.

luvboxer-3198619

There are consequences for the choices one makes.

To think you deserve money from a fund you paid in to, like a good sheep who followed the foxes, while you watched the very people that were voted in to office rob that fund, and allow that fund to function as a ponzi scheme, is you own fault!

Why should the future or anyone else be fiscally responsible for choices that the past made and allowed to defunct social security?

Our government wouldn't lie to us (again) - stupid is, as stupid does.

Much like investing in the stock market, you lose!

I am 61 years old, paid in to social security all my life, but made alternate plans for my retirement, because I could add and subtract and knew that social security could not function as designed. There are now more takers than payers from a fund that is stuffed with IOU's, because the political crooks spent the money!

Oh how nice that you have been able to take care of your needs as a senior. As for myself, I've lost postion in every recession that's occurred in my adult life. Loose your job, loose your house, loose your 401k, companies aren't doing the retirement benefits anymore. If you don't have SS -- you might as well work till you can't walk & then die quickly. That's my plan. Because you see, the rich have gotten richer while the rest of us has gotten the shaft. I now make the same thing that I did in 1980. I've had to restart my life 3 times because of cutbacks & recessions. None of it was my fault, but I've picked myself up by the shoestrings & moved forward.

Time for those who caused the problem & those who supported these expensive & senseless wars to pay for their sins.

freckles-538211

Interesting, that you think other people should PAY for the choices YOU MADE!

They were unable to pass that package. It was filibustered in the Senate just like everything else has been since the midterms. The Republicans have succeeded in completely stopping the government, if you can consider something so bad for the nation an accomplishment.

It enrages me, quite frankly.

I just hope people don't forget this when election day rolls around.

We were finally paying down our debt in the 90's, then here comes Bush, saying that the surplus belongs to the American People (esp. the rich ones).

Now they've come back again, taken over the house - and look what happens.

The Obama/Boehner grand plan actually would have turned the tide, but the other Republicans just will not let anything that can pass and actually become law.

Mark - Exactly. President Obama and Speaker Boehner worked out this "grand plan," but Speaker Boehner knew that it would not pass in the House.

As someone stated above, the Republicans have paid no attention to the Bowles - Simpson plan. Additionally, even one of President Reagan's policy advisors has stated that the Tea Party's stand on taxes is just wrong.

Unbelievable.

Yes, the Republicans have blamed President Obama for creating this whole mess, all by himself. However, I never hear them mention the previous spending sprees and the $1.4 trillion of interest that has added to the debt over the last decade.

The right-wing media has done their listeners and viewers such a disservice. Many people are voting based on their lies and misinformation rather than basing their voting decisions on their own research.

The average US Congressional member increased their wealth by 16% between 2008 & 2009. Reported by the Center for Responsive Politics of federal financial disclosures...

When averaging lawmakers’ minimum and maximum potential wealth for 2009, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) tops the list with holdings exceeding $303.5 million. Followed by a fellow Californian, Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), with $293.4 million. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) places third at $238.8 million.

Issa, Harman and Kerry realized wealth gains of nearly 21 percent, 19.8 percent and 14.3 percent respectively.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), Rep. Vernon Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) round the list of lawmakers who in 2009 recorded an average wealth of at least $100 million.

That would be SIX of the top EIGHT wealthest lawmakers were - DEMOCRAT...

BTY - It was Kerry who was evading paying the $500,000 taxes on his $7+Million USD Yacht...

Clinton's administration was using "BANK AFFIRMATIVE ACTION" that FORCED the banks to write bad housing loans... watch the video... see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivmL-lXNy64&feature=related

It was Clinton that started the tax breaks for the 'deep water' drilling in the GOM...

It was Obama who doubled the amount of ethanol in US gasoline. Every gallon blended results in a $0.45 tax credit to the oil industry. This amounted to over $6+Billion last year. Ethanol is a Democrat supported program, Al Gore cast the deciding vote as VP... He NOW admits is was to gain the farmer vote in 2000...

It was Obama who was giving BP safety awards and waving environmental requirements...

It was also Obama who was receiving the largest donations from BP for YEARS...

The USA is being faced with the same decision that the countries of the EU are now facing...

They can keep paying the same rates for the social give-away-programs, which will result in the country going bankrupt/defaulting. Or they can reduce these programs to a manageable level...

Cutting Taxes & Balancing the Budget was what the Majority of the New Congressmen were elected to do during 2008 election...

Obama and the Democrats seem to have made-up their mind...

Interesting: "Cutting Taxes & Balancing the Budget was what the Majority of the New Congressmen were elected to do during 2008 election..."

Only foolishness would believe that it is possible to both cut taxes and balance the budget. Especially since the tax cuts, if any, would not benefit the middle class, only the wealthy, with is a Republican trade mark. As discussed at this news source, the Republican Bush tax cuts primarily benefited people making over $1 Million according to this news source: #s289287&title=Effect_On_AfterTax (which is vastly more credible than your YouTube post by the way.

Obama is not the problem. The Legislature IS the problem--both Democrat and Republican, which is why their approval rating has been in the teens for most of the decade. The worst of all are the House members that were elected in 2008. If they push this country into another recession, they won't need to worry about "cutting taxes and balancing the budget," because they won't get another term (we can only hope they don't).

If there is a party that CANNOT handle budgeting, it is the Republicans, as they proved when: "In the eight years that the Republicans were in control, the nation debt went from $5.6 Trillion to $10 Trillion. They enacted tax cuts that primarily benefited the the wealthy as described below, they started two never ending expensive wars, they oversaw the creation of the worst recession in 80 years, and they increased the deficit from $17 million to $1.1 Billion. The Republicans caused this over the last decade, and they are about to make it worse by throwing us into another recession."

DAl-3829490,

The inconvenient truth for liberal media members is Congressional Democrats haven't proposed a budget since the fiscal 2010 one was passed on April 3, 2009. see http://m.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/07/03/krauthammer-challenges-shields-where-democrat-budget-whats-their-plan

The 2012 budget proposed by Obama was DEFEATED in the Senate with a 97 to 0 vote...

Reid has not submitted a budget for a vote and he will not even debate the Republican house proposals...

Obama has stated over & over that he will VETO any budget from the Republican House...

Explain who the people are, that are BLOCKING the budgets???

I just reread your "Bank Affirmative Action" statement and just about fell out of my chair laughing. It assumes that banks weren't profiting from writing bad loans. Bank were raking in billions by writing bad loans, using them to pad their profits. You might want to do some research into Collatorized Debt Obligations (DCO). Read the heading Subprime Mortgage Crisis at the following link if you care to learn about them: #Subprime_mortgage_crisis

Nice try to deflect the question...

Tell Wachovia how much money they made by writing Bad Loans...

Interesting. So you think that Wachovia's $6.5 Billion dollar net income in 2006 and $5 Billion in 2007 isn't consistent with the statement that the banks were raking in money. By the way, in 2001, the company's net income was $1.5 Billion.

Wachovia, like WAMU, gambled heavily on their money making CDOs and bad mortgages. In contrast, Wells Fargo had much less exposure, which is how WF was able to acquire Wachovia when they were on the verge of collapse.

The point: your statement about "Bank Affirmative Action" is one of the most asinine I've heard someone make, but since you get your "facts" from YouTube, I suppose the best thing to do is just chuckle.

Still did not answer the question...

And you are stating that the statements being made by Clinton's Housing & Urbane Development Sec did not occur And the $2.1+Billion loans did not occur...

Or of Obama's involvement with ACORN when they were FORCING banks to make housing loans to unqualified people...

Normal LIB even when faced by their hero, making statements on Camera... They defend him and IGNORE what he was doing & promoting...

The 2012 budget proposed by Obama was DEFEATED in the Senate with a 97 to 0 vote...

I am SO SICK of hearing this misleading talking-point.

Democratic aides said ahead of the vote that the Democratic caucus scrapped the plan because it has been supplanted by the deficit-reduction plan Obama had outlined instead.

Republican Leader, Mitch McConnell (Ky.) demanded a vote on it anyway to "show that Democrats don’t support any detailed budget blueprint".

McConnell said Obama’s budget “continues the unsustainable status quo.”

He noted during a floor speech that Democrats initially applauded the plan.

The president’s budget called for ending tax cuts for the wealthy and a three-year domestic spending freeze, saving an estimated $1.1 trillion over 10 years. Democratic senators at the time called it “an important step forward”, “a good start” and a “credible blueprint.”

No Democratic senator was willing to support it, however, after Obama came forward with a more ambitious plan at George Washington
University to save $4 trillion over 12 years.

Reid has not submitted a budget for a vote and he will not even debate the Republican house proposals...

He tried to, but the republicans filibustered it!!!!!!

Obama has stated over & over that he will VETO any budget from the Republican House...

NOT TRUE! He said he would veto the budgets they've come out with to require going thru this entire debt ceiling madness AGAIN just before CHRISTMAS, creating uncertainty in the economy.

Explain who the people are, that are BLOCKING the budgets???

The T-Party because they are demanding EVERYTHING they want without compromise, even though they are a minority, while Democrats have made lots of concessions.

Reid has yet to floor a Democratic budget proposal... 850+days...

Republican talking point lie. I record Cspan2 daily, fast forward through the roll calls to get to the meat & potatoes of the day.

Senate Republicans have been filibustering EVERYTHING from judges, cabinet posts, budgets -- everything.

Republicans know how to stick together to block anything and everything that will move this country forward. They've been doing so every since Dems lost the super majority with Senator Brown.

Republicans obviously want this country to fail. They are confident that FoxNews will belittle our President so much that this country will vote Obama out of office. Then they will come back to Congress & take up Democrat plans/ideas as their own to save the day.

Lies are becoming the truth all over again. It's sick. It's embarassing for this country.

The cost of a barrel of crude oil Jan 2009 was $37+USD, it averaged below $47+USD during the previous 8+years...

Obama's policies of EXPANDING the; Afghanistan Operations, Libya/Pakistan attacks, and additional taxes & regulations on the US oil industry have kept the crude oil prices above $90+USD...

This is one of the main reasons that the US Economy is in the TOILET and not improving...

Don't forget about the time when oil spiked up to $150 per barrel in the last 18 months of the Bush presidency. That spike in oil prices had a lot to do with the crash of the economy and the housing market. Very selective memory. No?

Dennis-1989658,

The spike in crude oil prices to $147 a bbl lasted ONE month.

Six months later the price was below $36 a bbl...

This spike was initially started by the EPA changing to the ethanol and low sulphur diesel. Then George Soros and his buddies running the spot market up.

BTY - Ethanol and changing the EPA regulations were a Nancy Pelosi/Al Gore pet project...

@John - How do you stand yourself, giddy at profiting from other people's misery?

Everyone has a desire to make money whether through investments, work or other. I too am waiting for the market to go down and then throw more money in it at that point. I have no problem making money to benefit my family. The Tea Party is putting us in this gridlock because the GOP can't seem to become statesmen, they worry more about the Tea Party and reelection than actually doing something.

ChristabelMai, I do not profit from the misery of others. Prices go down from a host of different reasons. People do lose their money. Some lose from making bad decisions or they allow others to make bad decisions for them. Either way the person investing is responsible. Just like me. By the way I bought Bank of America (BAC) A week ago. Let's see what happens with this decision.

I agree ,US firms who outsource jobs to other countries should be held accountable for the job problem we are having.Tax them to the maximun only then will they bring the jobs back home.bring the jobs back get a lower tax rate.right now they are sitting on billions of cash. i am tired of seeing everything made in china.we need manufacturing jobs,jobs that pay good money only then we will revive this economy.

The inconvenient truth for liberal media members is Congressional Democrats haven't proposed a budget since the fiscal 2010 one was passed on April 3, 2009. see http://m.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2011/07/03/krauthammer-challenges-shields-where-democrat-budget-whats-their-plan

Continuing budget resolutions are NOT a Budget proposal...

A continuing resolution is a type of appropriations legislation used by the United States Congress to fund government agencies if a formal appropriations bill has not been signed into law by the end of the Congressional fiscal year. The legislation takes the form of a joint resolution, and provides funding for existing federal programs at current or reduced levels.

For a list of these see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuing_resolution

The POTUS submitted a 2012 budget proposal - ON TIME. The Senate voted against it - 97 to 0...

I wish you Libs would study the Congressional laws and regulations... Class is adjourned...

Do you keep this in the clipboard for easy pasting AC RObertson?

You must, b/c the posting a few paragraphs above has the exact same grammatical error. I'm not going to point out that it's a misleading talking point again. If anyone wants to see why, just scroll up.

AC Robertson is just a right wing blogger planted to make the boards look more right wing than they really are.