State of the Union (Page 4)

“The real cause of our debt is that our government has been spending 1 trillion dollars more than it takes in every year. That’s why we need a balanced budget amendment." -Rubio

Preach it brother. 

No republican would ever actually support this amendment if it had a real chance of passing. Since we all know it has no chance, all the republicans promote it. More pathetic partisanship instead of real leadership from both sides last night.

No republican would ever actually support this amendment if it had a real chance of passing. Since we all know it has no chance, all the republicans promote it. More pathetic partisanship instead of real leadership from both sides last night.

No republican would ever actually support this amendment if it had a real chance of passing. Since we all know it has no chance, all the republicans promote it. More pathetic partisanship instead of real leadership from both sides last night.

I do not think a balanced budget amendment would be a good idea and am perfectly happy to say it.  There are time and things that require a government to go into debt just like regular people.  Can you imagine winning WWII without the ability to go into debt?

That being said there does need to be something in place to restrain political spending.

If you need to finance a war, there are plenty of ways to do it. There are plenty of ways to fund discretionary emergency funds. But the operation of the U.S. government and the things they promise from OUR treasury most certainly should be balanced.

Oh that I agree with.  You should not be spending more than you are taking in as a matter of regular operation.  However, there are times that debt is appropriate and not just what you term "emergency" spending.  In recessions revenue falls and safety net program spending rises that is just the way it is.  When the economy recovers you get a wash of that debt spending or at least you should.  We have been deficit spending for so long and hamstringing our economy at the same time that that will not happen now.  But, if you live within your means on a regular basis debt is not a necessarily bad thing at times.

I do agree with you. I understand governments hands can't be tied completely. It would be difficult to ride the tide of the economy. But there are also measures that could be taken.

In the big picture, I don't even have a hard time with a deficit... I have a real hard time with a deficit we can't even begin to pay off without a serious hurting... and they are still dreaming up more ways to spend money. And I have a real hard time with the money we spend without any real idea of priorities. The budget should be balanced and we should have money for prudent reserve.

What the heck am I even talking about... what ever measure they put in place, they will just break it and keep kicking the can down the road.

I am a big Rubio fan but if he said that we should have a balanced budget amendment then there is at least one issue we disagree. 

I would agree to an amendment to only allow adults to run for Congress. 

I could support that amendment. 

Where do you guys plan to find adults to run for congress? 

Probably from BT.

Here is the best commentary I've seen courtesy of the Onion's twitter feed.

#SOTU fact check: American people do not actually deserve better

— Onion Politics (@OnionPolitics) February 13, 2013

Last night this was one part that bothered me...

But if Congress won't act soon to protect future generations, I will.  I will direct my cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.

He seems to think executive actions can be used to create laws.  Sorry buddy, that's why we have 3 separate branches of government.

Of course any objection to this will be met with "oh so you love dirty water and global warming hunh?"

ETA: the other part was the "they deserve a vote" sermon.  He mentioned Hadiya Pendleton, the 15 year old shot in Chicago.  Nothing in any of the proposed gun control legislation would have prevented her death.  Of course that won't stop the anti-gun crowd form using her death to their advantage.

Probably from BT.

Here is the best commentary I've seen courtesy of the Onion's twitter feed.

#SOTU fact check: American people do not actually deserve better

— Onion Politics (@OnionPolitics) February 13, 2013

I do agree with you. I understand governments hands can't be tied completely. It would be difficult to ride the tide of the economy. But there are also measures that could be taken.

In the big picture, I don't even have a hard time with a deficit... I have a real hard time with a deficit we can't even begin to pay off without a serious hurting... and they are still dreaming up more ways to spend money. And I have a real hard time with the money we spend without any real idea of priorities. The budget should be balanced and we should have money for prudent reserve.

What the heck am I even talking about... what ever measure they put in place, they will just break it and keep kicking the can down the road.

I am a big Rubio fan but if he said that we should have a balanced budget amendment then there is at least one issue we disagree. 

I would agree to an amendment to only allow adults to run for Congress. 

I like your amendment proposal.
On the balanced budget amendment;  why don't you like it?

I know there are times when we need to utilize debt in the short term to smooth things out in the long term, but as you mentioned we have children in charge of the national credit card.  So, my thoughts/support of a balanced budget amendment is to force them to reign in the spending on stupid stuff, prioritize where the money goes, and make programs more efficient.

We also have children voting which is the other half of the problem. As mentioned above, I see it as a gimmick amendment that masks the real threats to our democracy.

Yeah, I certainly don't disagree with you.  Similar to JoshR I am becoming more and more pessimistic on anyone ever actually fixing our debt issues (either party) so I am now resorting to "gimmicks" like this to force them to do what they should be doing in the first place.  But to be certain it would be much better if they just did what they were supposed to be doing.  

Yeah, I certainly don't disagree with you.  Similar to JoshR I am becoming more and more pessimistic on anyone ever actually fixing our debt issues (either party) so I am now resorting to "gimmicks" like this to force them to do what they should be doing in the first place.  But to be certain it would be much better if they just did what they were supposed to be doing.