I heard this mentioned on the radio this morning and it is a puzzler.

- The tax cuts that are due to expire at the end of the year, if they are extended, either for everyone or just those making less than $250K, would be an unfunded piece of legislation . . . tax breaks aren't free. So, won't extending the breaks adversely affect the dececit?

Of course, a reduction in taxes will increase the deficit; unless you believe that the resulting "stimulus" will increase economic activity enough to offset the cuts (trickle down economics). I don't know if the current estimate were based on these tax cuts expiring or not.

Yeah, by about 7 trillion. The reason for maintaining them on the middle class while letting the rich expire is two-fold: one, the rich are doing fantastic in this downturn and have had a free ride off borrowed-money tax cuts for years, two, the middle class will probably spend theirs to pay down debt.

Why wouldn't it be an "investment" like the stimulus spending with a deferred return if we apply Obamanomic Logic?

Tax breaks can be free and don't have to adversely affect the deficit when there are enacted corresponding reductions in government and its expenditures.

Your question appears to segregate out of the broader context and address only a single specific aspect of the debate regarding the overall fiscal state of the union as if it can realistically considered within that artificially created vacuum.

And Briana Banks and Tera Patrick can be in my bed tonight. Just because it is possible doesn't mean it is probable. Reduction in govt spending DOES NOT buy votes.

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Alright, then as I understan, unfunded tax reductions (since there is no correlating plan to reduce spending) is an economic stimulus program.

When the current tax reductions were implemented, the way they were "paid" was via the concept that the country had over-taxed citizens and amassed a surplus and the country could afford to lower taxes in response. We're clearly not in that position and it's debatable that we were in that position in the past.

Perhaps, we should be wondering . . . is there ever a proper time to raise taxes?

Yes there is. The day AFTER I retire in another country with all my cash in my hands.

Good question. Lets see. I want to buy that new boat. What to do? Perhaps get more income via a 2nd job to pay for my toys?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

I am so tired of hearing the right wingers whine about leaving debt for our Grandchildren. This debt they are so worried about was created by us over the last 10 years. Why do right wingers expect their Grandchildren to pay off their debt?

If they are really serious about people being responsible for their own future then why are they trying to duck out on this debt that was recently created?

And before anyone starts to whine about my taxes not going up... Sorry, but they will and they should. I doubt that I will starve to death, though.

I think the debts started a lot longer than 10 years. It has been thru several parties, Presidents and what not. It is the basic issue of you not wanting to vote for me because I don't throw you some bread and have circuses around. You promise me $200, the next guy has to see that $200 and raise or he loses.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

There will be plans to reduce spending in the next Republican majority congress!

As far as stimulating economic activity the collective economic decision making wisdom of 300+ million Americans is a much more reliable instigator of economic activity than the central planning decisions of partisan political wisdom.

That is the theme driving the electorate now, especially in bad times that last thing anyone wants is the government deciding where Americans must spend their scant resources, and it’s a natural and logical impulse. That's why Obamanomics is being rejected; nobody trusts it to frugally husband the limited resource that exists.

The reality is that government has grown too large and can no longer be supported in its every undertaking; it will be reduced either by choice/design or by the brutality of economic realities!

Pitch forks and torches are the growth industry at the moment! November 2nd will be soon upon us and it’s not looking pretty!

And there are plans for me to get a sex change with some huge knockers too. How do you think you can get votes with cuts in spending? They might do it but they will be voted out the next time. Guess what. That is a MAJOR career crimp. No way they will do that. You don't gain votes without pork

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

On the day President Bush took office, the national debt stood at $5.727 trillion.

On the day President Obama took office, the national dept stood at $10.626
trillion.

Today it's $13.506 one year and eight months after Obama's taking office (with 1/2 of the TARP money unspent but attributed to Bush deficit approximately $385 billion)

It looks to me like somebody had better come up with about $10,600,000,000,000 if we want to pay off the debt that Bush sunk us into.

That somebody should be us and not our Grandchildren.

You should learn to do simple subtraction if you need to understnd how much of the national debt is due to GW Bush's administration!