Democrats attack Greenspan

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-02-25 08:48pm

Greenspan's comments about Social Security and Medicare are dead on, and seemed to draw the most fire. His comments on the tax cuts are accurate, but are normative in nature and should therefore be taken with a grain of salt. The democrats are over-extending themselves by attacking Greenspan. This will become a serious weakness in their campaigns, if Greenspan decides to duke it out with them.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/02/ ... index.html

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-02-25 08:53pm

Greenspan is never going to get into a political debate against the Democrats. The reason he has survived so long through the Clinton administration is because of his non-partisan attitude and he has dodge this kind of baiting before from both sides.

The don't call it "Greenspeak" for nothing.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-25 09:08pm

He IS the Chairman of the Fed. Who honestly thinks "gee, we know better than Greenspan what's good for the country."

At last someone's honest, while those liars will ride it down in flames to get reelected.

Its his job, for Christ's sake. Talk about shooting the messenger.

Oddysseus · Post by **Oddysseus** » 2004-02-25 10:02pm

The Democratic issue is that they don't see cutting into SS as the best choice, when there are other options. They feel the inequity in taxes should be addressed. Through this they think they can mitigate much of this.

Maybe while greenspeak is ineffect, the rest of the world doesn't have to go mute. It should be debated and discussed, I noticed that Bush loos to have no interest in following the Chairs dictates. WHy no reporachment for him? Or in his case does he get a pass?

Oddysseus · Post by **Oddysseus** » 2004-02-25 10:03pm

Illuminatus Primus wrote:He IS the Chairman of the Fed. Who honestly thinks "gee, we know better than Greenspan what's good for the country."

At last someone's honest, while those liars will ride it down in flames to get reelected.

Its his job, for Christ's sake. Talk about shooting the messenger.

He's not the might Oz, just an economist (though I have great respect for economist).

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-02-25 10:27pm

Oddysseus wrote

The Democratic issue is that they don't see cutting into SS as the best choice, when there are other options. They feel the inequity in taxes should be addressed. Through this they think they can mitigate much of this.

I hope you don't believe that the top income earners don't pay enough taxes????

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-25 10:35pm

Oddysseus wrote:The Democratic issue is that they don't see cutting into SS as the best choice, when there are other options. They feel the inequity in taxes should be addressed. Through this they think they can mitigate much of this.

Inequity in taxes?

We live in a country with severely graduated income taxes; it is already inequitable--if you make more, you don't just pay your share, you get extra shares to pay, just for being more successful.

theski · Post by **theski** » 2004-02-25 10:40pm

Illuminatus Primus

"Inequity in taxes" is just a nicer way of saying..... "Wealth Distribution

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2004-02-25 10:51pm

Well, duh. But anyways, you'd probably get more revenue if you actually tried to stop the rich from loopholing their way out of the taxes they are already supposed to pay- most of the tax burden goes on the upper middle class. And as for eliminating subsidies, good luck- getting re-elected, if you are Kerry; or ensuring that another Republican President follows you, if you are Bush.

TrailerParkJawa · Post by **TrailerParkJawa** » 2004-02-25 11:43pm

Greenspan is basically correct, we are getting more gov't than we are paying for. The problem is too many American's don't understand how Social Security works, or they don't plan for their own retirement. Now, some can't. Lower income people just don't make enough. But none of this changes what Greenspan says, benefits have to go down or taxes have to go up.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-02-25 11:52pm

Simple--abolish the SS fund entirely. Slash Medicare and Medicaid.

Create a retirement benefit for seniors falling below a certain income bracket. Expand the health care around everyone, chuck the bureaucracy. Lower the cost of liability and litigation by reforming the justice system and phasing out/reformiing trial-by-jury.

Oh wait, I forgot my thorazine; nevermind.