World Newser Question Of The Day

Let me demonstrate how this economic package will work.
I’m going to pull a rabbit from a hat. Now, I don’t have a rabbit and I don’t have a hat.
But Obama is going to pull $900 billion from the same thin air.
AND, he is going to cut the deficit in half by the end of his term after he more than doubled it at the beginning.
He is writing check our bodies can’t cash.
It will not work. Not once has government ever made it better. It takes the people. Government has caused this by de-regulating the lending industry. Then gave that same industry billions of non-existent money without any terms in its use. Stupid.

George Piker Bush
I kinda like that, has a nice ring to it.

Given the size of the economic crisis, I fully expected the size of the stimulus to be as drastic. Otherwise I would have thought it was just another Washington blunder.

I will support President Obama and his ideas until he is proven wrong. PROVEN wrong. We need universal health care and I am willing to pay my share to get it for me and future generations. Everyone should be willing.

What some of you folks don’t seem to recognize is that the U.S. has been operating on borrowed money since 9/11. How do you imagine we’ve been fighting a war on two fronts? How do you think government contractors like the infamous Blackwater were being paid millions of dollars? How do you think we’ve been paying for weapons, planes, ships, helicoptors, rockets, etc., etc. if not with borrowed money? Money borrowed from Saudi Arabia, from other oil rich countries, from China. All the while the government has been very careful to keep our citizens in the dark, hiding under the catch-all shield of “National Security”, i.e., “don’t tell the children; they wouldn’t understand.” Hah!

what can be done to save the economy? many people disagree with the president’s but what would they put in its place? i’m not a strong supporter of the plan but something has to be done. what happens if we do nothing? or what is the alternative plan?

I think most people knew the war was extremely expensive. That’s a given.
9/ll did happen; we didn’t make it up.
In l993 the first bombing of the WTC happened. If we would have taken care of business at that time, maybe we would have done better. But no, we gave our enemies eight more years to gather themselves and to get stronger.
Good going, Clinton.
Obama ran on the promise of getting out of Iraq. He’s just moving the war over to a new neighborhood. That’s all.
But he will be able to say, ‘See, we’re out of Iraq now.’
Most of Obama’s ideas is like having an elephant in the room, and everyone is pretending the elephant does not exist.
Everything is great. Just step over the pile of dung. In fact, what dung?
If you mention the elephant or the dung, then you are yelled at and called a hater.
A great speech does not necessarily equal great ideas.
Who isn’t for higher education? or healthcare? or housing? or balanced budget? or whatever else that makes life worth living?
How are you going to pay for it ALL?
2% of the population? Guess what? That 2% of the population will take their marbles and go somewhere else. That’s how the wealthy operate. I’m not saying this is good, bad, or indifferent. It is what it is.
Is Obama going to print more money?
Well, good luck with that stratergy.
It will just dilute the value further.
A sandwich will cost $50.
No. I don’t have the answeres. I just can see what won’t work.
I’m for some parts of the stimulus package; not so much for other parts.
Compromise is needed.
Before the states take their part of the package, they better look into the long term consequences.

ITS ONLY MONEY ? RIGHT

This is the beginning of a NANNY STATE …. Gawd help us .

I want to know where this money is coming from. What’s the point of printing more money when there is nothing to back it up with. Printing more money doesn’t help anyone. The stimulus package is crap too because it doesn’t help me a single mom of 3 kids who worked last year but didn’t make enough to get any money back on taxes and apparently I didn’t make enough in 2007 either to get a stimulus check either.

The budget is beyond absurd. Obama is not even competent as a socialist.

I’m disappointed that the news media are not noting that the Obama budget also includes the money allocated, but omitted from previous budgets, so that we see the real picture. Yes, he has to add to the existing budget to fix the mess Geo. Bush left us, but this focus on the total number alone is not responsible reporting.

This huge budget makes no sense. They tell US to pay off our bills and that pork is unhealthy. I look at the Democrats and feel that they are not in touch with reality. They don’t seem to have the wisdom that it takes to make sound decisions. They frighten me. I feel that if we come out of this, it won’t be what they did, it will be a miracle; I’m praying for one.

I think the budget is a good start. We need to give Obama a chance… The Republicans – after supporting George Bush for 8 years have NO moral authority to question this budget. Their approach of maintaining party line is simply politics as usual. If the republicans aren’t happy – let them publicly propose alternatives – not just snipe at obama’s plan.

Obama may be intelligent but that doesn’t carry over to wisdom. I’ve yet to see any wisdom in his moves.

according to my amortazion schedule, i will pay back twice what i borrowed for my mortage, plus insurance and taxes–tell me again why we are bailing out the banking industry?

The budget stinks, and definitely promotes class warfare. Discriminating on who can deduct mortgage interest fully is just that, discrimination and class warfare. Ditto charitable contributions. I will politely decline charitable requests in the future by simply indicating that Obama has made my contribution for me by taxing me more and not allowing me to decide what charity is deserving a donation.
I will also have to cut back on the use of small business services. Little things like yard maintenance and repairs will go back to being done by me. I put myself through college to allow me to live better, not to give my hard earned dollars to others who made different life choices. Giving people money to pay their mortgages is ridiculous. Giving a certain class of people $8,000 to buy a home is nothing more than a redistribution of wealth. Whatever happened to working for money to put down on a house?

Mr. Obamas plan is not what this country was founded on. He is turning this into a socialist society. What a shame? Why should the people be punished that actually went to college, worked hard, started businessess and achieved the American dream? Is the rest of the US going to be motivated to make more money ? No—why? they would just be taxed on it—-We don’t want to pay for those who just sit around and do nothing but waiting on handouts!!!!

Fianlly an honest budget. Sure I hate the numbers but it is not really any larger than with Bush who hid the cost of being in two wars. Talk about pulling a rabbit out of his hat… he pulled the money for Iraq and Afghanistan from somewhere certainly not his budget. We need to spend large to get large. Until the Republicans can come up with something better or workable, they should keep their mouths shut. Republican Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran is proud of being the largest pork spender in this country. Looks to me like others are trying to catch up.

With almost 60 trillion of national debt
this is taking us closer to bankruptcy and making it more difficult to push our foriegn policy with nations holding a large share of Treasury notes. A sad day for America.

If healthcare is costing so much, how is throwing billions more money at it going to help? Where are the plans for spending all these trillions? Why didn’t he get the economy issue solved if it’s such an emergency before spending billions on healthcare reform & energy issues, especially he won’t let oil companies drill for oil in the U.S.???????

On the news tonight no mention was made of the fact that the president included in his budget the cost of two wars something which has been missing out of the last 7 budgets. Perhaps if the Bush administration had been honest with us the numbers today would not appear so high.

I pay a lot of income tax about $32000 but I feel lucky. I think Obama is spending it wisely.

When you “The People” hire morans to run our country like we have the last two presidxents that includes Obama and Bush which, neither have enough sense to figure out if their backsides are drilled or punched, then, complain about why the way things are, look at Congress, look whom is the speaker of the house “another idiot” backed up by Mr. Barney that caused the same problems they are now saying they want to repair…..Give me a break folks, you keep hiring Idiots because “You like them”. Start blaming yourself, you hired the fools. Throw them out, quit pointing fingers.

I think he’s lost his mind. You can’t just print out billions (trillions) of dollars without a serious repercussion down the road. Everyone who thinks that taxes will be cut, and that only the “rich” will be taxed more to pay for this, are delusional. We and our children and their children will be paying for this. Our country will ultimately be weakened. I hope everyone looks forward to being a 3rd world country — that’s where we’re headed.

He should let free interprize fix the mess. Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac wouldn’t have told the banks what they did if our government hadn’t told them too. That’s really what started this mess in the first place. It’s absolutely terrible what he is doing!

Idiots all!! We must get rid of every incumbent and install someone who will show some fical responsibility. The most recent spending spree is $12,000 per person and this is just one spending bill-the annual budget. This present president will be the ruination of us all.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
OUR(SE) PRESIDENT HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE IS DOING.
THIS IS NO MORE THAN SLIDING MONEY INTO THE HANDS OF “CRACK” SLACKERS.
WHAT FOR THE MOVING OF PEOPLE FROM THE USA NOW TO MEXICO AND CANADA.

Solution:
1. Give every tax payer One Million Dollars.
2. Bail out Banks and Major Industries on a case by case basis.
3 Create infrastructure packages with necessary pork.
You’re Welcome.
Sam

Certainly the budget is fair! Let’s face it; we’re in trouble and we need drastic change. 8 years of doing the same thing over and over again got us deeper and deeper in crisis. Will Obama’s plan work? It’s too early to tell, but we know one thing…the course we were on wasn’t working. I own a small business and I’m going to be taxed more under the Obama plan. As a conscientious citizen, I’m fine with that. We’re struggling like everyone else, but I also realize not everyone one in the country has the same abilities that I did to open my own business. If my increased taxes go to help the less fortunate I see that as my duty as a citizen in the US. Should families making more than $250k pay more taxes? Hello??? Of course they should. Who cares if you started with nothing and built that into wealth. In fact, if you started from nothing and are now wealthy, you should be more willing to pay extra taxes. Its time for the American people to take responsibility for each other…how many times do you walk by a homeless person asking for money? When was the last time you gave clothing to a local chairty? When was the last time you collected money on behalf of a charity? it’s easy to do…if every taxpayer in the US gave $1 to charity, we’d raise more than $300,000,000. The current economic crisis takes a group effort. If you don’t get onboard, you’re part of the problem. If it doesn’t work, hold the administration accountable in the next election. Until then, get on board and you may be amazed at what you can do to make small changes in your town or neighborhood.

I haven’t read enough of the proposed budget but what I have read is that Obama wants to double foreign aid. WHAT!?!?!?!? How can we afford to double the already stupid amount we give to other nations when we as a country can hardly keep our own neck above water? I say we stop all aid immediately and only give a set amount to those in need after a catostrophic event. I think we should also bring home ALL our soldiers from everywhere that they are. That alone would save billions of dollars per year. Ask yourself this: would America allow a British, German or Korean base on our soil? Why should we spend our hard-earned money on bases overseas?

I am REALLY liking what I am hearing and what is BEING DONE!
This is the closest the people have ever come to representation in DC.

Obama is clueless, he has no idea how the real world works because he has never been part of the real world. The government has always taken care of him. Now he’s trying to fix an economic crisis when he has no experience in running a state, a company, and I would bet his own household budget is handled by his wife. Stock up on food, seeds, and guns people, what money you have left won’t be worth a dime.

As senator, Mr Obama maintained the most liberal voting record. As candidate for President, Mr. Obama tried to convince us that he was a pragmatist and centrist. Now as President, we see his real stripes in this budget outline: income redistribution unlike anything in history, and an all out attack on for profit businesses and risk takers. Since being elected in November, stock prices have collapsed more than 25%. Is America still the home of hard work and Horatio Alger, or has it adopted new heroes such as Thomas More and Francis Bacon who believed in utopian visions of equality.

A famous person once said, “From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs.”
Sounds like the Democrats are heading down the road to Socialism.

“Capitalism works for those who do. Socialism works for those who don’t.” When the productive Americans receive no benefit from hard work, then they will join the throng of those who don’t.
Making History, Obama’s “Central Planning” is the biggest since USSR during Lennin/Stalin, and has nothing to do with American’s priorities. The people demonized and villified by Obama are the very people that can restore our once burgeoning economy. Those “wicked” people that have been productive, the businessmen and entreprenuers of the United States of America are being robbed. The money stolen will pay many people to build bigger government and others to sit on their butts. Sorry, but this Utopia is the pure fantasy of the most leftist leader since Joseph Stalin – BO.

Rushing headlong into the abyss is not the change we need. I strongly disagree with this crazed spending, we chastized the last administration for spending and yet we are doubling that spending in one month it is totally irresponsible and not the change I am for. He campaigned as a centralist and now his true motives are coming to the surface.

Here we go. No way are the tax increases going to be directed at those earning over $250K. Not possible with the way this socialist wants to spend. Tax charitable contributions? Perfect. Eliminate charities, because Barack is the only one who needs our money. Decrease the home interest deduction? Sure…no one is buying houses now anyway…let’s cause another bunch of foreclosures.
Hello…who are the only ones able to spend (read that “stimulate the economy”)? The very people Barack says he wants to increase taxes on. Any idiot knows that you don’t increase taxes on anyone when you want people to spend money and boost the economy. Except maybe for Marxists and Socialists.
Oh yeah…that’s what Barack is. He’s never made much of an effort to hide that. But last November no one much cared. My family isn’t close to that $250K magic number. Still, our taxes have more than doubled in the past year. George Bush is the ONLY President whose programs ever cut my taxes. Barack isn’t going to do so any more than Billy Goat Clinton did.
Wish I’d bought the same gold “hang” mentioned. We’re all going to need it, and sooner rather than later.
What do I think of the idiot’s budget? Not much.

OK So what is it that you don’t understand? Yet another bank CEO fails to understand that it’s our money that he’s using to fly around in his private jet…but is it his fault? See our generous government GAVE money to banks that didn’t need it, didn’t request it, didn’t even want it…but Washington said sure…here…take it! It’s yours compliments of the American public! So ask yourself then, why aren’t the banks lending? Why aren’t homeowners being helped with all these billions. Well, common sense tells me that there is no motivation for the bankers to do any lending? Why? Because the government is gifting them money. What motivation is there for a banker to sit across from John Q Public and listen to yet another sob story of homme loss and/or job loss9es) when, if you wait long enough, the feds will ride in on their white horses and simply hand over millions of dollars! I think I’m trading in my “appraiser” hat and donning a shiny new “lenders” hat… seems thats the way to big bucks with no effort these days!

What is the big problem about trying to figure out how to fix the economy. I am not a rocket sicentist, I work in a factory that is slowing down because of the economy. But there is one sure fire way to stimulate the economy. Divide all that bailout money amoung the people that actually spend it. And there would be an instant turn around. You cou give every tax payer over 18 years old $100,000 an they would spend it. They would buy new cars, therfore no need to bail out the big 3. They would payoff ther mortgages or buy a house, That would solve that crisis. Whats the big deal, besides the fact that the government doesnt want to help out the people that matter.

Hello, socialism! Amen to Jane who wrote about the pigs. That is exactly what is going on here. God help us all.

How in the world did this guy ever get elected? I feel like this country is being run by a first grader or worse, by Nancy Pelosi or Keith Olbermann. We have all lost our minds. Socialism would be a step up from here. This generation will never recovery from the debt this idiot and his band of morons put on America…

I never thought I would live in a socialist country but I guess it is coming. He is taking all the “wind out of the sails” of the people that made this country great. Why work hard if you have to give it away.

We have earned our degrees, paid our bills and mortgage (did not buy a house we could not afford), saved for retirement, paid for our health insurance and healthcare, put two kids through college, saved for retirement and now the “messiah” wants a bigger piece of our pie…..It is a crime!!!!! We have lost a large portion of our retirement already, so I guess Obama will take care of us in retirement since we will be giving the government 42 % of what we work so hard for. I DOUBT THAT SERIOUSLY!!!! America is getting what it voted for. The royal shaft.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security-
Just how close to a call to arms is He willing to push. Dear Mr. President, there is no sleeping giant in America, is there, so feel free to celebrate like a Democrat who just found a lost wallet full of hundreds, Happy days are here again, aren’t they. How’bout a 40 oz’er,just think, “King of the World,and a fist full of dollars” ain’t it grand?

America as we know it will be destroyed. All I feel right now is anger. This president has already proven himself to be a liar. We are being run by the equivalate of the Chicago mafia. Better WAKE UP AMERICA!

What Budget plan? Billions for health care? Why is the government in the health care business? Look a the V.A. hospitals the government runs for veterans, it’s a mess. Keep the government out of the health care business. I think people are going to be very sorry they voted for President Obama and for a Democrat controled house and senate. Open your eyes America, this guy is killing our freedoms faster that any previous president and he has only been in office for a few weeks.

The Obama budget is the most profound example of fiscal irresposibility I have ever seen. It is akind to me borrowing a million $ days before filing for for bankruptcy.

I’m not panicking about anything I’ve heard so far, though I haven’t heard it all. We need a health care plan. I’m a lawyer, but I’m not bothered that the lawyer in your report will have to pay 3% more on the part of his income OVER $250K.
And I never have totally believed Judd Greg’s point that a small restaurant will lay people off if they have to pay more on income over $250K. They may go out of business if the balance sheets don’t work but, what, they’re going to stop doing dishes? I think most restaurants employ only the staff they need.
Likewise, giving Ford a tax cut won’t necessarily mean they’ll use it hire workers if no one’s buying their cars. Tax cuts are good for business (and everyone else), but the connection to jobs isn’t nearly as simple as Republicans make it out to be.
Putting the bulk of the country in a position to start buying things again will be best for business. Republicans, I think, recognize that but they seem unwilling to shake the orthodoxy that the only way to accomplish anything is by stimulating the corporations and people who have the most. I’m willing to listen to conservative ideas, but I just haven’t heard any new ones.

I was disgusted when I heard one of the men interviewed complaining about having to pay more taxes and how it’s not fair because he worked so hard to get where he is at. I’m sorry, many of us have worked just as hard to get where we are at and we all need to pay our fair share in taxes. Anyone making over $250,000 a year shouldn’t be complaining about the increase. You’re taking home a hell of a lot more money then someone making $50,000 or less. And if you are contributing to charity you should be doing so for the right reasons, not to get a tax write off. We will soon see who gives for the spirit of giving and those who donate just for a tax write off.

I am in total agreement with the President’s budget. Its about time issues such as health care and energy were addressed. I remember the gas shortage of the early 70s. Had they been funding alternative energy research since then like they should have been we might not be in such a mess.
And on the question of irresponsible people, I say take a look at the corporate execs, not the working poor paying 30% interest to them to pay for appliances and such while trying to survive.
Their pleasant lifestyle was made off the backs of the rest of us. I have NO sympathy that the rich can’t put their dogs in daycare anymore.

So, Obama is raising the capital gains tax, imposing the death tax, and going to kill small business owners, and probably impose national health care. And I’m supposed to believe that it won’t affect me because I don’t make $250,000 a year?? If you believe that, I have a beautiful bridge to sell you!! PS. If Al Sharpton needs health care, I’ll pay. Yeh, right

the $3.5 Trillion 2009 budget is $600 Billion more than last year. Show the pie charts from Wikipedia… What’s the big difference… Coapare actuals.. Stop sensationalizing big numbers… Where are the new monies going? When viewed side by side, the spending increase just makes up for Federal holdouts over the last 8 years…

I dont mind helping people, however, how about the individuals that are making just over $250K with 2 children in colleges that cost over $40K each and rising as I type…using our retirement funds so they can have an advantage in life…struggling to pay our mortgage and leaving bills so that mortgage can be paid so we dont loose our house? Oh, and hoping every day either of us dont loose our jobs. Needless to say we do not get anything from his plan.

Obama is selling our country right out from under us. These politicians seem to have no conscience. They have children and grandchildren. What about leaving a a better country for future generations? Look at the debt they are going to inherit. We are going to end up not even being able to recognize the society we grew up in. 10′s of billions of dollars are going to support programs that support illegal aliens. The American taxpayer cannot work enough or pay enough taxes to support a never ending stream of people through our porous borders. It is so politically incorrect to speak to this because politicians don’t want to offend the largest growing potential voting block. Government has never been able to run things efficiently. With this spending bill we will never be able to account where all of this money went. This is the most frustrating time I’ve ever encountered in my life.

Obama’s budget is all a jedi mind trick. “this is not the budget you are looking for – this is not the America you thought you lived in – we are not socialists…’
George S’s remark was correct “radical progressive” but to the rest of us means “communist!”
These aren’t the droids we’re looking for – move along.

Paying one’s fair share of taxes is one thing, but stealing people’s money is a crime. The government will be stealing with it’s new budget proposal. I do donate for the “right reasons” but now will be unable to do so. I also will save every penny not stolen by the government instead of doing what I have been, buying american and employing people.

Does any thinking person believe this budget is anything but a power grab?
More than economic disaster, our very freedom is threatened by this administration.
Audacity…….what an understatement.

You can look this up if you need to; it’s called a “spree”. A “budget” means the outgo does not exceed the income!

The size of this budget is truely frightening. We just heard the President say he is going to balance the budget and now he is planning to spend so much we can’t ever possibly pay it off. How can he possibly do both? There is a new spin everyday.
I have to cut back on my spending because my pay is down. If I got more money back, I would spend it on consumer items. If people’s taxes go up, they cannot purchase as much. It is impossible for any other outcome.
I work for a company that is an S corp, so the company’s earnings are treated like a paycheck. The tax hike for people earning more then $250,000 will affect our company by increasing our taxes and we are told we will have to have layoffs to offset the loss of profit due to the increase in tax.
President Obama is trying to do too much at once. The question that keeps coming up is we have to do something to help the economy. However everyday we keep hearing about how much money we have to spend. I really think it is better if we do nothing. If a company took a risk and got over their head, they should go out of business and a stronger more responcible company could purchase those assests and move on. This applies for not paying for other peoples’ mortgages, financial institutions and car companies. The govenment needs to stop spending money and live within its means before our money becomes worthless!

I think it’s a necessary ill. We voted for change and President Obama is giving it to us. For far too long Washington has operated without fiscal restraint and this is the price we have to pay to get this economy going again. I say GREAT!

I feel our country is heading into the abyss with all this taxing and spending and will take 20 years for us to recover. I feel our country is lost.

I am panicking about everything I’ve heard thus far. The day of paying for what we buy has long been attributed to antiquity.
From the lawyers perspective, the Democrats have raped the country in pork spending and thus should be held accountable to the extent of the law.
Since when is orthodoxy a bad thing? I too will be listening to the liberal ideas, but I haven’t heard one yet that saved money yet.

This president is already completely out of control. He fancies himself FDR and is mortgaging our children’s future with money he doesn’t have. Thing is the New Deal while successfully creating big government, did not solve the economic crisis of that time – it took war spending to solve it.
Which of those business people he is slamming in his speeches would or could propose a corporate budget that loses money year over year and keep their jobs.
We are faced with a government spending money they don’t have creating programs we don’t need promising things it can’t and won’t deliver. Can socialism be far away.
I don’t agree with everything Republicans say, but I do agree we can’t afford to spend money we don’t have, not at these levels.
The good news is in four years it will be very clear what has happened as a result – then again we can vote for change we believe in.

I like the budget as presented. This money is being spent to fix America and we need fixing. Conde Rice went to Africa and saw the big Aids problem they have. She gave them 15,000,000 dollars that we did not have. George Bush thought that the program worked so well that he gave them another 15,000,000 dollars that we did not have.I am glad we are finally spending money we dont have on Americans.
Our President is doing his best to lead us out of this mess. An old saying comes to mind,”Lead, Follow, or get the hell out of the way!”

634 billion health-care fund with no info on what it will look like or how it will function. how is this responsible for elected officials to vote for such expenditures. if our health-care system is so bad, why do those from countries with government health care come here for better and more timely care? it is reported 40 million in this country are without health insurance. the rest (over 300 million) have health insurance. why force the 300+ million into a system they do not want. this does not even touch the issue of the debt “bkm” said it. one comment above addressed energy. do the research and you will find alternate energy will never save the consumer or the tax payer money.

WORRIED ABOUT THE DEFICIT?
Why didn’t you fight George Bush when he gave the money extracted from the middle class to “the winners”.
Why didn’t you fight George Bush when he started the Iraq war — current estimated expense: $3 TRILLION DOLLARS.

if the Bush adminastration was so great why are we in such a mess. It was the republician way of doing things that have put is in this mess. It is time for a forward thing president. it will not be easy, but the republicians have given us no choice. I think all of them should just be banished to the cloak room for the rest of their term. SHUT UP.

It seems as though President Obama and the Democratic party are raiding and pillaging the successful hardworking people of this country. Too bad the highranking nominees, some who are making financial desicions for the country are allowed to forget or not know that they themselves owe tremendous tax bills.

The budget is a disaster that will take generations to correct–charitable giving will suffer.

Thank goodness Obama only makes budget proposals and Congress make budgets.
Basic economics: tax it and you get less of it, subsidize it and you get more. We are taxing hard work and subsidizing unemployment, bank failures, and late mortgage payments. Why should a North Dakota rancher pay taxes to build a train from Vegas to LA? Why should a taxpayer from Oregon pay for pig smell studies in Iowa? Why should a Maine taxpayer pay for schools to be built in North Carolina? Reduce taxes and let the States raise what they need to pay for the needs of their people. The Constitution did not create a government to redistribute income. I choked when Obama said he was against bigger government.
This inflationary deficit spending will only spiral into higher oil prices and other goods bought around the world.

Nancy Peloski took her family and others on a trip to Italy on a government 737, visited museums, had a private audience with the pope, stayed in expensive hotels – all on the tax payers dime.
What a double standard – this is how your tax dollars are gettign spent.

I have no problem with the tax changes. I do believe the total budget is 20% too high. We cannot burden future generations. To create jobs you need ideas and money. Where will the money come from if taxes are too high? Some programs will have to be cut.

Ever take a child to the shopping mall for the first time? They want everything with little thought of how to pay for it. This budget appears as though the President and his people walked through the “Mall”. The government has no money to pay for this except what it plunders by laws it creates. The government doesn’t create wealth – it re-distributes wealth. Re-distribution has a dampening psychological effect on national motivation to achieve.

I hardly know what to say that hasn’t already been said. Your broadcast was the most depressing I’ve seen in years. Mr. Obama spoke of budgeting the way folks do their home budget. Is he a total idiot? Who can make a home budget where the spending is twice their income? Do these people really think we can get out of a hole by digging out the bottom? Will someone please help us get our country back before they destroy it for our children?

Per President’s Obama he wants to tax folks making over $250 a year. I do like this idea and it is fair. But, what I would like to see ABC start doing is to monitor how many of these rich people are moving their money offshore, especially politicians!!!

I 100% do NOT agree with Obama’s budget plans. Where in the world-literally-is he going to get this money? If he thinks, “oh i can just run the money printing press and all will be fine and dandy”, he’s wrong. All that is going to do is put more money in circulation, and the prices of everthing is going to shoot up. If he’s not planning to run the printing press, then where will he get the money? Take it from hard-working people that have gone to get a good education so they could have a well paying job? Raise taxes so no one has money, except for his “life-changing” plans? I don’t know about you, but I just don’t get it. His budget plan is completely pointless.

We are heading fast to becoming a second rate socialist country instead of the greatest country in the world.

Charlie,
The first thing a socailist does is control the media and that Obama did marvelously during the election.
The bright side of all of this is you popular media folks are going to have to pay more taxes. When you carried him across the river on your backs did you know he was going to sting you? My prediction is before four years are up the new media tune will be “a buck in the Obama hand was worth two in the days of Bush.”

Leigh Shafer,
What ever happened to a balanced budget? IT DIED WHEN YOU HELPED ELECT George Bush to the Whitehouse.
Remember, Clinton left Bush a balanced budget. Greenspan was worried about the total elimination of the Federal Debt!
Now, you Republicans have left us in a $50 TRILLION economic hole!
The Republicans destroyed the U.S. economy!

This is nothing more than socialism – pure and simple! Redistribution of wealth. This bill punishes entrepreneurism. Why should those who have worked very hard over the years to raise their standards of living (as well as the standards of living or almost all Americans) be forced to bear the financial burdens of those who have less? Capitalism is what made this country great. Where would we all be today had it not been for people like Henry Ford, Bill Gates and Sam Walton? Where do many people of lesser means shop? WAL-MART, that’s where. The tax dollars paid by these businessmen and those like them far exceed taxes paid by low and middle-income persons, both in actual dollars and percentage of income. I am NOT a wealthy person, but I don’t expect those of wealth to pay my way or share their resources with me. They earned it through hard work and ingenuity. Those attributes should not be penalized!

The government is out of control. This is no longer about taking care of America and Americans. This is about money and power. The people need to take back their government. And it’s both sides of the aisle. But the Democrats are really the worst. Especially Pelosi.

The USA, as we know it, will soon be gone. Obama is about to destroy it. We are heading toward socialism, if not communism. IT WASN’T THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION that got us here…Carter and Clinton relaxed the requirements for getting a home loan and now we are in a mess. If Clinton would’ve done his job, while president, 911 wouldn’t have happened.

To the person who says the rich will have to quit putting their dogs in doggy daycare……that is a crock!!We just had our car serviced at 100,000 miles to hopefully make it last another 100,000 instead of stimulating the economy by buying a new car which we may have done before hearing our hard earned money is going to Obama!!!Do you realize that people that make over $250,000 a year keep this retail economy going. Many in “doggy daycare” that work hard for a living will be losing their jobs.

This budget is just a rush to redistribution. I stayed in school, worked and borrowed for college and a masters degree, worked and borrowed again for a business degree, paid it all off and worked my butt off for 40 years to reach a certain level of prosperity from modest roots. Now, I’m perilously close to being the bulls-eye on Obama’s target, and vilified for achieving what I have. Meanwhile, AMT is already eliminating deductions for children and charitable giving and taxes so that my marginal tax rate is much higher than the rate tables report.
Apart from opposition to massive redistribution, the numbers don’t work. You’d have to confiscate the total incomes of upper income Americans to pay for all the worthy programs Obama and his congressional fellow travelers want to support.
We got into this fix because we all have been spending beyond our means…on government, on housing, on consumer goods, with the idea that someone else would pay for it–the wealthy, the government, the insurance companies–anyone but me. The answer to near-bankruptcy is not uncontrolled spending. This is a disaster.

I feel like a jerk right now because I am one of the idiots that put Obama in office because I believed his lies. Now it is obvious that his arrogance knows no bounds and this country is in very deep trouble.
I am not alone in my remorse at voting for this guy. I’ve talked to 20 other people today that feel the same way. I don’t think that there is any hope now.

Frank Letsby BORROWED money to get his Masters degree.
He invested in his future, even though he had to borrow to do it.
WHY ARE REPUBLICANS so ignorant that they can’t understand they idea of investing in the future?

I am sick and tired of hearing those who make more than 250,000 per year having to pay hirer taxes whine and cry. So you have to pay higher taxes…who gives a crap. You make plenty of money and you probably won’t even notice it. Try living like the majority of the population who live on MUCH LESS. But we just keep plugging along and we seem to do just fine. It’s always those who have the most who want to give the least and complain and whine the whole time about it. The poor and middle class have shown time and time again how they can pull together and give when the chips are down. WAKE UP those of you who are living high and mighty. It doesn’t matter if you scratched and crawled your way to the top. Your there now. So buck up and shut up. If you make more than most, then pay your fair share and don’t whine while your doing it. Remember to count your many…many…blessings.

There is a recurring message among these comments that historic tax cuts have subsidized the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. It simply is not true, despite how often the claim is made. Official government reports make this clear. Upper income taxpayers pay almost all of the taxes in this country. The top 1% ot taxpayers pay some 40% of all taxes. The top 5% pay over 60% of all taxes paid. The bottom 50% of taxpayers pay only 3% of income taxes. The reason the State economies are taking such a hit is that their tax structures are so progressive that, when stock returns fall and the incomes of the affluent fall, there is no one left paying taxes. And the reason why budgets like Obama’s pass is because those who pay no income taxes have the majority votes to pass legislation that taxes others to pay for programs they want.

Jake,
Can’t drown anyone with truthful statements. Can’t drown anyone with cogent arguments.
Read about credit default swaps. Read about asset backed securities. Educate yourself!
Jindel pointed to the poor federal response to Katrina. I guess he forgot about the Republican president who named the man who’s experience was in horse shows to be the head of Fema.
And I think you may have forgotten the Republican policy of naming regulators who believe in zero regulation, the ones who fought against regulating hedge funds and the investment banks who invented uncapitalized credit default swaps and toxic asset backed securities.

Don Foster,
If ONLY we could have the genius Republicans who destroyed the U.S. economy running things!
Get a clue! Uncapitalized credit default swaps were invented in the private sector.

Oh…and one more thought……everyone sees just how much the rich care about those who live on much less. Take a look at the jets they waste our hard earned money on. And how about those outrageous bonuses they gave and accepted…..stealing the taxpayers money. They should all be ashamed. You don’t see the poor and middle class having perks like that. We appreciate the fact that we have jobs and a way to support our families. And what about those who have lost their jobs. As far as I’m concerned….all those who have the most should give every bit of their wealth to those who have lost everything.

If Obama wants to change our nation for the better, he will DECREASE spending, not increase it. To me, President Bush’s greatest blunder was fiscal irresponsibility. Increased spending from the current administration is NOT a change of course at all.
I am firmly opposed to ANY increased government spending, be it from the Democratic or Republican party.

CHANGE?! RIGHT! A change from capitalism/DEMOCRACY to COMMUNINISM!!!!!! So many campaign promises and now so many LIES and broken promises! Spending trillions of – pork barrels – is not going to help the country in any way…just make us further in debt…little about building up the economy nor JOBS for the American people! You obviously have no idea how to run a country. You knew all about the problems at hand when you campaigned for the position! You are a traitor and should step down and let someone w/experience and knowhow handle the Republic of the United States of America!!!!!!! None of the bills you’ve passed have been honest nor fair! This is NOT what America is about. We do not like the direction our country is heading! You’ve broken your pledge for transparency, bipartisanship (No hearings or debates?), morality, on and on. I’d like also to know why you still have tax evaders on your staff, namely Rahm Emanuel and Tim Geithner? And what about Hillary Clinton and Bill, re: financial deals? You can’t have two sets of rules. What’s happening to our Republic is a JOKE…but NOT a VERY funny one!

Bush in the last 4 years essentially has handed over the treasury to special interests who ultimately supported his re-election. I’m sorry to say I voted for him. He was an unmitigated disaster.
Obama is simply trying to give back to the middle class what bush has handed off to the wealthy during his term. The republicans scream tax cuts … right – the only place tax cuts went to is to line the pockets of the wealthy and CEO’s already getting more than 300 times that of the average worker They sure did not help the middle class.The rich essentially bribed the Republican Congress to give them more.The country gor what we are in now.
To all you geniouses out there complaining – not all of us have the resources and more importantly the ability to get into harvard. Some of us have an IQ of less than a hundred and work behind retail counters, waitressing, picking up trash and so on
When does the equality of a human being and his or her honest labor catch a break.
Al
Go Obama!

I really think it SUCKS!!!!
Where has the stock market gone since we knew he was going to be President?
I don’t want my grandchildren and their kids to have to pay for this blunder and irresponsible leadership.

Edna and Bob: “Obama should be impeached… because of my opinion.”
I think there might be some actual requirements named in the Constitution before you impeach the ELECTED president of the United States.

Yep, we’re screwed. Thanks Mr Prez

Republicans are immoral.
They say they are against ‘socialism’.
Does that mean they want to end Social Security?
Does that mean they want to end Medicare?
Does that mean they want to end medical benefits for our Vets?
Do they think the GI Bill was a mistake?

Chinese Proverb
If we don’t change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going.
People are upset and want to continue in the ways they always have. . . .but that hasn’t worked for 8 years. As hard as it is, maybe we need to change direction.

I am against any form of spending MORE money. Basic economics from high school teaches, or at least it used to teach, that if you do not have the money it is not wise to keep spending and going further in debt. This is nuts! The healthcare discussion is a farce beyond intelligent reason. The government has NEVER been able to successfully run any sort of healthcare program (Medicare, Medicaid, Champus/Tricare) – what in the world are they thinking?
If he taxes the rich – they will quit spending as much which is BAD for economy. If he raises taxes on businesses, they will cut back jobs and production – more bad news. It does not make any sense to fix stupid and irresponsible spending with MORE stupid and irresponsible spending.
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, TEACH a man to fish and he can eat forever. Giving people more and more government handouts does not fix anything, it just perpetuates the problem. I am scared for our future and the future of my kids and grandkids. Leaving the country looks more and more like the only option we may be faced with.
Sick to death!

Insanity is when you keep repeating Republican economic policies over and over, expecting a different result.

John–It’s hard to understand your point, and your finish is arrogant and insulting, but this much I will say–tax cuts for those who pay taxes (that is, taking less of one person’s hard-earned money) is quite different from taking money from one family and giving it to someone who pays no income taxes. That is not a value judgement, just a statement of fact. The only way they are equivalent is if you believe that all wealth belongs to the government, and we are granted what portion of our earnings that our leaders allow us to have. That is not how a free market and free society work. There are a lot of reasons to create programs that support our fellow citizens in need. But we should not get confused about the fact that demanding less of those who pay all the bills is different from spending on government programs, however worthwhile.

For Goodness Sake,
Finally the USA has president who will honestly say what the Federal Government is spending and address spending priorities in an adult mature way, respecting reality and our ability to engage in the conversation intelligently. Does anyone think we would be in the financial straits we are currently in EXCEPT for fuzzy accounting practices and dishonesty?
Please, the entire Iraq war was sham, as was the Government’s accounting of it.
I, for one, find honest talk about budgets very refreshing. Please stop the hyperbole.

The government has never had a problem taxing a single segment of the population. They will raise taxes on tobacco and put extra taxes on smokers, or alcohal to tax people who drink, but they are supose to shut up and pay the tax but when you try to tax the upper class we are all to feel sorry for them and give them a pitty party

It’s about time we started investing in America again, and that’s precisely what President Obama’s budget proposal does.

What’s amazing to me is how hard I’ve worked for many years to reach the bottom end of the group that will pay significantly higher taxes, and how so many who have not worked as hard, or not worked at all will benefit. Universal healthcare? Houses for everyone? Spending beyond one’s means? Bah Humbug. Instead of contributing more to society, I think I’ll spend the next 8 years figuring out how to transfer large sums of money from society.

Frank again,
Econ 101: MONEY IS FUNGIBLE.
You can no more distinguish between one dollar and another than you can one electron and another. Bills have a serial number, but it has no economic effect.
There difference between the dollars coming out of my middle class pay check and the dollars FLOWING TO the pockets of the wealthy under the Bush tax program.
So yes, I am afraid it is true. The money subtracted from my pay check. The money was sent to the wealthy. It was transfered from the middle class to the wealthy.
Insulting? Take an honest look at the Republican economic theory. Republicans can’t get a sentence out of their mouth without saying ‘how important’ the wealthy are.
Read George Will as he complains about the transfer of money, in his opinion, from the ‘winners’ (read ‘wealthy’) to the ‘losers’ (read those who make less than $250K.
This is the dark soul of the Republican theory of economics. Didn’t you know?

I believe that borrowing all this money is selling our kids future. we will be selling the future of our country to the banks who are already taking more of our money because of bad practices..
This will not change what will happen, only make us more in debt.

For the past 20 years, the promised bounty of globalization has been slopped up by the wealthy in this nation. What did the middle class get? 40 hour work week-GONE. Healthcare–evaporating. College for our kids–priced out of reach. National infrastructure–collapsing.
Now we’ve elected someone who’s going to expand the middle class, rebuild our infrastructure, make sure we can get decent medical help for our families.
How am I supposed to feel for the upper 5% that will have to scale down their McMansions, or the Companies that are going to have pay the taxes on the money they’ve been hiding in the Bahamas? Wait, let me whip out my violin to set the mood just right … !

Just one more comment. Obama has not repremanded Pelosi for having a private jet, that costs $60,000 one way to CA, and $60,000 back every weekend, using our tax money. Let’s see how much does that add up to in a year? I guess that is just a hickup amount?

Seems to be way too much happening way too fast…I wonder how much thought and care is going into these lightening speed decisions where multi-trillions of dollars are being spent of money that does not belong to the federal government, but to the American people…may be a trainwreck waiting to happen. Moving this fast on such monumental issues is scarey…could be a cliff ahead and we may not be able to slow down.

The title of this article should read: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need–Socialism in the US”
Of course this plan won’t work…taking money from those who have earned it to give it to the second-handing parasites at the bottom is a gross infringement of the principles of this country.

I believe that presidents Obama’s plan is the most dangerous policy every pursued by a U.S president. Luckily we have checks and balances in our country that will allow us to somewhat reverse course or stop the insanity in two years. Hopefully it won’t be to late.

I grew up in Eastern Europe and I have to say that Obama sounds very much like our leaders back there…
Yes, you did have a free state health care but if you wanted a rotten tooth fixed not pulled out you *HAD TO* pay the doctor under the table.
I only wish I was wrong… Barak – just go to Eastern Europe – EVERYBODY will tell you that socialism DOES NOT WORK!

Atlas tells us exactly why the Republicans like taking money from the middle class and giving it to the rich:
“…taking money from those who have earned it to give it to the second-handing parasites at the bottom is a gross infringement of the principles of this country”
Translation: The middle class == Second hand parasites

$3.5 trillion divided by $350 million Americans = $10,000 per person. Wouldn’t it just be better to let each person keep that $10,0000 in the first place?

Preserves Social security till 2041.
Emphasis on health care, energy, education/Technology. There is an emphasis on bringing back the middle class, and regainig our status as the healthiest, wealthiest and smartest country in the world. Baby boomers over 55 can continue to be productive via community service, personally I would love to teach when I retire, this budget definitely.
I don’t the wealthy class is going to dissappear, to rephrase the gospel “the wealthy we will have with us always”.

Lack of infrastructure investment and under-taxation of the wealthy is what got us into this mess. I’m not talking about people that make 200k or even 300K per year. I’m talking about the people with 10s of millions of dollars (or much more).
The more money people have beyond their basic needs, the greater the risk they are willing to take. We’ve had way too much high risk capital floating around looking for greater and GREATER risks. It’s not surprise that the whole thing collapsed.
Exactly what did we get for the excesses of the past 10 years? What if all that money had been spent on k-12, highways, bridges, damns and levies.
It’s time to reward WORK above speculation and gambling. Yes, capital investment in SOUND ideas is desirable. Unfortunately, rich people have had SO MUCH MONEY that they can’t be bother to dwell on what’s a good idea and what is high-risk gambling.
Obamas got the right idea. Tax the wealthiest a bit more and the excessive speculation will decrease. We’ll use the money to rebuild the nation instead of wasting it like we have been.

Obama is going to destroy this country.
What is the matter with the American people, do they understand what is going on here. I do not think the American people get what this president is doing to America. This all about power and we are risking loosing our democratic form of government.

I fail to see how I or anyone esle is going to benift from increaseing tax’s. These increase’s will deminish a person’s dissposable income. We will not have the money to make purchases that will drive any recovery.
Someone try and remember where they heard “Redestribute the Wealth” from. Sound familar?

John,
Hahaha! Did they let their investors have a say, or did they just make them do it?
It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.
Have a great day! Say no to wasteful spending. $200K for tatoo removal anyone?

micheal-’under-taxation of the wealthy is what got us into this mess—What if all that money had been spent on k-12, highways, bridges, damns and levies.’
That’s exactly my point ! If the wealthy & businesses had paid the same share/percentage of their incomes as the poor/middle class do and did for the past 30 years , there would be no budget deficit today.

This is so unfair to our children and grand children and great grand children. When did we become a nation of lazy people!
Why have I been making double payments for my house every month? I could have stopped making payments months ago.
What is he going to do with $3,500,000,000,000? Who does he think he is? Why are we letting him do it!

voter/taxpayer,
Ask Bush: “Why did you put the economy into a $100 Trillion dollar downturn?”
It is not just the economy that is bankrupt. It is the whole Republican philosophy.

Richard Mayer,
Were you awake during the campaign?
Obama said he would cut taxes on 95% of working Americans during the campaign.
McCain accused Obama of wanting to help people welfare, but Obama’s focus has always been on the hard working middle class. Unlike the Republicans.

You know what folks? 52% of you voted him in…AND he told you EXACTLY what he was going to do…which is now what he is doing. Redistributing wealth…what little of it is left after the last six months! That is what he promised to do! Woo Hoo…a politician who does what he promises, imagine that!
Every day I wake up and watch the news (it is like a train wreck) and wonder what liberty the government attempts to take away next. Whether it be the right to own my own labor (for those who don’t understand…that means MY income) or the right to raise my children as I see fit (see “Child Rights Treaty)…I see my liberties slowly being erased…for the “good” of us all.
Obama wants to tax people making $250K or more. This is what I envision happening…the spouse is just going to quit working to push them back into a lower income taxing bracket. Then guess what happens? Obama (although to be fair, Congress is responsible for passing the budget) is going to tax THAT income bracket next…and on and on. Do people not get that? And of course, we can’t forget about the people that want the government to “take care of them”. Give me a break people. YOU are responsible for taking care of you. Not the government. Have my fellow Americans lost all of their backbone to get up off their lazy butts and do what it takes to take care of themselves?? I agree health care needs reform…but get educated people! The reason it needs reform is because the GOVERNMENT runs it now! Hello? This is one of the largest entitlement programs! What evidence do we have that the government can do anything efficiently? Answer: NONE. Oh yeah…I want the government to be in charge of my health care. Let’s rely upon logic here people…simple logic.

John,
The Dems had the House and Senate. Did you forget? Also the markets didn’t start to tank until Obama took a lead in the polls.
I’m moving to Sweden. They are less socialistic than we will be soon.

As an American I have never been so afraid for my Country. Our representatives pass these major bills and policy changes without benefit of reading it and debate. How can they criticize bankers when Nancy Pelosi flies around in a private jet and she’s bankrupting the country

In response to Mr. “Anonymous”, I SAVED every cent for my college education!
I SAVED every cent for my one and only car.
And I plan on SAVING every cent for an affordable house.
It isn’t impossible to save before you invest.

President Obama has lurched to the far left in his budget. He’s proposing to write checks we can’t cash. Our kids and grandkids are going to pay this bill.
We hope ABC counts the responses, both pro and con, and reports the tally tomorrow.
Who would have thought that a Hollywood actor had more common sense than a Harvard grad!To grow the economy we need tax cuts across the board!

frankie-’expect your employer to be hit with huge tax increase in 2 years to pay for the 789 bil in Obama pork’
What a crock !
They are getting a ‘huge tax increase’ simply because they have been getting ‘huge tax breaks’ over the past three decades.
Now it’s time to pay the piper.
Nobody expects the wealthy or business to pay ANYBODYS way….we just demand that they pay an EQUAL share.
YES WE CAN !

Dear John,
Once again. The Dems had the House and Senate. Did you forget again already?

I want freedom!!! I want to have less
goverment. Every time the politicians open their mouths the stock market crashes. We need another revolution. However, that is why they want our guns.

Eight years of vacuum in the White House has put us in this dire condition.
“Wishn’n Hopn” and more of the same “stand on the sidelines and watch” policy, isn’t the answer that is going to get us out of it.
These are the “Bold Changes” that the vast majority of American voters demanded.
This is not debt as much as it is the investment in America that will result in our nation’s children still having an America to govern for future generations.
We cannot afford to have an anemic economy for ten or fifteen years like some would accept. It will drastically jeopardize our national security and leave this nation open for our enemies to “kick us while we are down”.
The great mouthpiece, Rush Limbaugh, said that he hopes America fails under President Obama.
I have not figured who he hopes to pledge allegiance to if that would happen, but I certainly hope he does not accurately represent the attitude of Republicans who are now refusing to participate in the solutions.
America drastically needs programs that will take us off of foreign oil, rebuild bridges, roads, energy, electric grids, broadband and much more.
These are things that will make us more prosperous in the long term and for the short term, put people to work and rebuild our economy.
I’ve never seen a successful business that didn’t invest in itself, nor a successful country that didn’t do the same.
Bob

kidneystone-’”Redirect vast sums of money from businesses and wealthier individuals to those with lower incomes…” is a very clear definition of SOCIALISM.’
So what do you call the ‘redirection of vast sums of money from those with lower income to those wealthier individuals & business’ ?
THOSE DAYS ARE DONE !
YES WE CAN !

The American people voted for wealth redistribution… what happens when it’s all redistributed? Will the recipients have a spiritual awakening and think they should contribute something back or lay on the couch and flip on the free big screen in the free house and wait for the next hand out?

“I will support President Obama and his ideas until he is proven wrong. PROVEN wrong.” – hang
Fine and dandy hang, the trouble is by that time it will be too late and we will all be doomed.
As responsible citizens we need to take a good hard look at what is being proposed and figure it out if it will work ahead of time so if it’s misguided we have the opportunity to stop it.
Oh, and it would be nice if the media got involved and lent a hand.

toJohn,
I certainly remember unemployed, not really a plumber genius Joe.
George Will expressed the Republican viewpoint quite clearly. According to him, liberals want to transfer wealth from the ‘winners’, the virtuous rich, to ‘losers’, the unwashed middle class.
I have a different view. I see how the wealthy the prostituted Republican party to rewrite the rules to favor the ‘winners’ at the expense of the middle class.
Take Capt. Sullenberger, the pilot who miraculously performed a crash landing in the Hudson. His pay and his pension were shredded when the airline he works for filed bankrupcy.
Why do the employees and their pension claims come last in line when it comes to bankruptcy? That is simple enough. It is because the wealthy have wrote the check to the politicians who wrote the law to benefit… the equity owners. Surprise, surprise!
That is why George Will calls them ‘the winners’.

Call me a radical conservative, but I see this budget as nothing more than a means for forcing ideological academic theories onto the country.
This president and congress are rapidly digging a hole that is worse than the one dug by Bush and the congresses of his presidency.
Who in their right mind takes away tax deductions for charitable contributions? Only someone who thinks they can direct money better than the individual.
The media is failing the country by not examining the stimulus plan and the budget honestly line by line.
We are in desperate need of an independent media capable of separating themeselves from their ideological leanings, both left and right.
Without that, we are going to wake up one day and wonder why taxes are going up significantly for everyone, not just the rich. We are going to wake up and wonder how we continued the decade long slide to third-world status.
Obama is different from Bush but no better. He could possibly be worse and possibly worse for the economy than Jimmy Carter.

tonthrnNYker:
What you fail to understand that those individuals who are very wealthy (and these are not the people making $250..these are the 5% of people that you claim got a tax break…these wealthy people are going to be able to continue to not have to pay taxes. Hello? The ultra wealthy of this country will, yet again, have their accountants and attorneys find the loopholes necessary to not have to pay those taxes. Obama will not achieve his goal of getting all of this tax money, so he will then come after the lower tax brackets. Or, alternatively, they could always become a democrat! Doesn’t appear they pay their fair share, now does it? Sounds like a great argument for the Fair Tax. Democrat/Republican…it makes no nevermind. It is about the revenue to the government and how they get to decide to spend it. Who pays to play?? When their is no opportunity to play (getting government favors), they will have to pay. Can you say FAIR TAX?? Let me type slower… F-A-I-R T-A-X. Did ya get it?? Do some reading..it would go along way to solving most of our ills…especially governmental curuption.

Say what you want about the Bush administration… My 401K has lost 20% since the Libs took over. I long for the Bush days. The anointed one is doing a great job of taking my money and giving it to LOSERS.

toJohn,
Thanks for the old ideas from the old party.
It is my impression that the Rupublicans say that the jobs should go to the most ‘efficient’ producer.
It is my impression that the Republicans say that the market is self-regulating and all knowing and perfect and all good things come hence.
It is my impression that the Republicans say that the wealthy should pay NO income tax, NO cap gains.
These are the policies that have ruled America. And now the field they have sown has born a harvest of pestulance.
It is my impression that NO FACT will ever cause a Republican to change their philosophy, because… reality has a well known liberal bias.
AND SO FAR, I’VE BEEN PROVEN CORRECT.

It is an honest budget, so obviously the republicans wouldn’t understand. Tax cuts, Tax cuts…You’ve had your tax cuts now pay the piper…
Your mess anyway…Take some responsibility for a change….

jbrown,
HOW MANY hundreds of thousands of people have to lose thier jobs before you WAKE UP.
This is the fruit of the Republican policies.
Uncapitalized credit default swaps were a free market invention.
Toxic asset backed securities were a free market invention.
Naked CDOs (credit insurance on other securities you don’t own == fire insurance on a house you don’t own) wer a free market invention.

“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by
legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing
it..”
~~~~~ Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931

I START FEELING LIKE LIVING IN MY COMMUNIST MOTHER LAND SINCE AKA OBAMA TOOK OFFICE. THE DAMN GOVEMENT DOES PRODUCE JOB SO WHO PAY FOR THIS MASSIVE SPENDING? OBAMA IS STEELING MONEY FROM YOUR POCKETS AND MORE PEOPLE ARE ABOUT TO GET PINK SLIPS WHEN THOSE JOB PRODUCERS CAN’T AFFORD HIGH TAX THAT HE PROPOSES. I’M A YOUNG VIETNAMESE AMERICAN AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUND OF BEING AN AMERICAN EVEN BEFORE HE TAKES OFFICE. WHAT MAKES OBAMA THINKS THAT HE NEEDS TO CHANGE AMERICA TO MAKE ANYONE OF US TO BE MORE PROUND OF THIS COUNTRY? I TELL YOU WHAT I’M SO FEAR OF THE OBAMA PEOPLE AND HIMSELF AS THEY ARE TAKING THIS COUTRY DOWN TO THE TOILET.

tojohn,
Did you see that on the sci-fi channel?
NO DEMOCRAT has ever offered ANY PLAN that did not allow you to buy your own insurance or pay for whatever medical service you want.
Obama offered a plan during the campaign for the federal government to pay for businesses’ catastrophic health insurance premiums.
People who don’t have insurance through their employer would have the OPTION to purchase a plan from the government equivalent to that enjoyed by members of Congress.
THOSE ARE THE FACTS. But perhaps you actually prefer Republican fiction.
Every moral person knows that every American should have health insurance. That leaves out the Republicans.

When do we get the chip in the hand?

Brandon,
Ask the Republicans who dug this $100 Trillion economic hole.
They ordered up a $3 Trillion war in Iraq.
They ordered up ZERO regulation of credit default swaps and now toxic asset backed securities.
You don’t want to pay the bill? Send the check to the Republican party.

Dave in Atlanta,
You don’t like class warfare? Then ask the Republicans to reverse the transfer of money they engineered, out of the pockets of the middle class and into the pockets of teh wealthy.
Q: Why is it that the wealth of the top 5% went up during the Bush years at the same time the real (inflation adjusted) wages of the middle class went south?
A: Because that was the Rupublican goal.

Everytime Obama opens his dam mouth the stock market gets worse. I wish he would just hide under a rock for four years. This is not a republican problem where in. It is the dems that made banks lend to poor people that couldnt afford there dam house payments. Ask Barney Frank.

Why are people complaining…all Obama is doing is what he said he would do. I was warning people this day would come and to think this is only his first budget proposal. Thank God he doesn’t have a Super Majority!!

And another thing can someone please tell the dems to pay there taxes. Maybe we wouldnt be in this dam mess, if they did.

It doesn’t matter, we’ll go with the 85/10/5 rule that can be applied in any situation… 85% are average or below, 10% are above average and make things happen, 5% are gifted and do amazing things. In Obama’s restrictive socialistic scheme things will go underground and create a thriving black market where the top 15% will still thrive.
I’m happily in the 10% crew and will prosper.

Health Insurance?? Hey I just want what he said we should all have before the election. The same healthcare they have in the congress and senate, $25.00 deductable and everything else is covered. Or was he just blowing smoke? If so hope he doubles his cigarette intake to help with the 300 billion child health care plan. You know, set by example.

On the news tonight, a guy making over $250,000 a year was complaining because he will have to pay about $300 per year more in taxes. That’s less than $1 per day. I don’t think that will affect his lifestyle one bit. Too bad he’s not willing to pay $1 per day to help his country.

Frank again
RIGHT ON!!!!!

We have been on the path to total economic collapse for years….not just the last 8…however the lovely change that is now in motion will seal our casket!
We can kiss the American Dream goodbye..we have been circling the drain…life as we have enjoyed it….will be drastically different within 4 years!!

I am dismayed that our great country is going down this path with no consideration for the consequences. How can it be fair to ask 2% of Americans to pay for everything. I don’t care how much they earn or have, it just is not fair. Every taxpaying American should participate when we through our elected officials decide we want government to provide something to us.
This will not work and this, along with reckless lending and borrowing, will be studied for the next three generations on how to ruin a great country.

Can the people of the U.S. really be so ignorant of the fact that we were already trillions of dollars in the minus because of loans from China? Why would anyone want a government that ownes us? China owns it’s people and regulates everything that each person does and look at it.That my friends is exactly what is going to happen to us, we are giving away our rights to freedom for money.God help us.

John:
You are EXACTLY correct. And let’s not forget where is started. These loans wouldn’t have been even available had our so called regulators, aka House Financial Services Committee, loosened the requirements on lending to people who really shouldn’t have been in a house to begin with.

Janet Graham,
Maybe the downfall began when Republicans made it a rule to never admit a mistake.
Have you ever heard any Republican admit that the war in Iraq was a mistake?
Bush’s vanity (pappy never went to Baghdad) is now estimated to have a full cost of $3 Trillion dollars. (You have to account for replenishment of equipment and ammo, and lifetime care for returning vets with brain injuries or missing limbs.)

to John,
To expect rational behavior by the stock market is not rational.
Seriously, the stock market has no idea and has had no idea, what new rot is going to be exposed from day to day.
The big banks are technically backrupt (meaning assets < obligations), but they don't want to use the market value of their asset backed securities.
And their losses are either completely covered by credit default swaps, or not, depending on whether the government is going to continue to cover AIG's losses.
Another reason the markets know nothing is because the future of the economy right now depends on the human factor. Businesses will not start hiring people until they see customers. There will be no customers until people see some development that makes them think we are getting out of this.
My own suggestion would be for the government to start making consumer loans. There are people who want to buy stuff, who have jobs, but just need a car loan, for example.

The approach that is being taken is absolutely irresponsible. Action by itself means nothing. We are throwing out everything and starting all over again as a country. Is this the right approach? We are becoming a Socialist country if these ideas are adopted. And by the way, who says that health care should be free? It hasn’t worked so great in Canada.

irishrose,
What ever happened to free enterprise. The truthful answer is that we have never had it, not since Teddy Roosevelt busted the monopolies.
Trully free enterprise has never worked well. When the iron and oil barrons ran the country we had child labor and an 80 hour workweek and come to work even if your kid is near death or lose your job.
We had a new taste of trully free enterprise when AIG sold God only knows how much in credit default swaps (unregulated financial insurance) without putting even 1% away into capital reserve.
Now the government is left with a choice between paying $100 billion to cover AIGs losses (so far!) or letting thousands of other financial institutions go belly up.
Markets are the product of man. Just like your government and organized religion. They are not perfect. They do not produce perfect results.

why doesn’t he just try to give homes to all the slum dwellers in India while he’s at it with our tax dollars.
it is the end of America and the beginning of a third world county that used to be called America and those of us with talent and resources will eventually be driven out, just as my 8th great grandfather was driven out of France in 1685. i don’t know where our future lies but it isn’t here as tax slaves.

I guess I’m in the minority, that is I will be one of those that is truly affected by this plan. My company employs 200+ and I’m missing where the incentive will be for me to expand my business, provide health care, employ more people and spend more money. If someone can explain to me where the incentive is to do these things I’M sure many of the other small to medium sized business owners would love to hear from you. By the way I voted for “O”.

This is good budget on present situation, It was nice to address of common citizen then uncommon, further they need to monitor that bank will provide money to small business then large.

Make the small businesses the sucker. It is happening in Canada, Singapore, Hongkong, UK, India – as USA joins the crowd of government folks protecting their jobs.

Bob,
I would say that the most important thing for your business is to see more customers.
Keynes showed in an economic downturn, that unless the government provides a temporary stimulus, the economy will go into a self-reinforcing loop where
there is less money in the pockets of consumers, leading to less demand for businesses, leading to layoffs and less money in the pockets of consumers.
The recently signed stimulus bill attenpts to provide this stimulus, but Nobel prize winner Paul Krugman says the size of the stimulus is insufficient (!) to replace the size of the economic production expected to be lost to the recession.
In any case, some stimulus money is thought to be more effective than others. For example, some economic classes are more likely to put “extra” money into savings than spend it. On the other hand, unemployment insurance is thought to be one of the most effective forms of economic stimulus.
Besides the hoped for economic stimulus, you may also be affect by more lenient tax loss recovery, and I believe there are also investment tax credits there too.

Rick,
Let me get this straight, Karl Rove (ur, Marx) would be proud of Obama because he has some people from the Clinton administration in his Whitehouse?
Didn’t he die before Clinton was prez?
Seriously, the only promise Obama has broken is his promise to be George Bush. Wait a minute. He never promised that.
But Obama did promise a tax break for 95% of working Americans.
Maybe you dislike him *because* he is honest and smart. The Republicans look a lot like the Dodo bird. A species who has outlived its usefulness.

“The administration is attempting to redirect vast sums of money from businesses and wealthier individuals to those with lower incomes” can anyone give me a better definition of socialism?

I believe we have finally seen the change this country needs. The Bushwhacking years are done! Reality is setting in on the republicans and ABC news. I can only imagine what FOX news is saying, but since I will never watch FOX news again, someone else will have to tell me. Wait…I dont care!! I am tired as a working man, earning 50K to pay for the rich peoples luxury, it is time for the rich to pay!! As for the budget, finally someone TELLS us what it really is! What a relief!!

I agree J! The healthcare in this country horrible, top to bottom. When people will not see doctors, because of the bills it is not only wrong,,, it is as immoral as killing innocent civilians in war, because that is what is happening, IN AMERICA, by not giving them the healthcare thats needed!! yet the republicans will take the healthcare corporations millions for re-election, spin an new scare tactic…and bingo…they got the golden ticket!!!

Did I see correctly that the gentleman interviewed on ABC news said that he earned over 250 K and probably would not be able give to his favorite charities…as much, and they would be affected?? Give me a break…and increase of $300 in taxes is going to break a man earning over 250K?? did I miss something?

John,
I understand the end of the line, people do need to have money to spend, spending increases demand for products and business should expand. That part of the plan is fine but the other part appears to put the clamps on small business. For example if you hire an employee for 60,000 it cost the business approximately 90,000 to keep that employee due to FICA, Payroll tax, Workman’s Comp, 401 matching and the big one “health care” which is usually 30 -40 percent to the employee while the employer picks up 60 – 70%. With the tax structure being proposed this makes hiring decisions very difficult. In addition you have decisions for new equipment (machines, trucks, shop tools). These expenditures by small business is what creates jobs for other industries.
Oh, by the way Jimbo I’m not worried about me, I’m not talking GM or one of our great financial institutions, most small business is a little more structured like a family. I do care about my employees and they like me. I think they appreciate their jobs and benefits and fortunately we are still in good shape.

Obama’s push for change is something to appreciate, even if you disagree with his policies. Republicans, remember before he was put in office your president signed a larger, ineffective spending bill.
The people of this country are selfish.
Three thoughts….
1, it is the responsibilty of the people to elect officials to lead our government in a way that provides equality for all citizens. As it stands the separation of races and classes in this country shows that equality can be found for few people which is why the healthcare bill is a wise investment.
2, We are running out of fuel. That is a fact, it will run out. So we need to invest in the future of our country and force a change. Which is exactly what he is doing. If socialism by definition is paying more taxes to fix major problems that run rampant throughout the country then I guess Obama is a socialist. If not, then he is a president that is doint something that others were unwilling to do. Which is bear the complaints of the selfish, money hoarding, sinful hearts of we, the American people.
3, What sacrifices have you ever had to make? Why do you deserve so much from the government but are willing to give so little? Why does the homeless man on the street, the one you stereotype and thus believe yourself to be better than, not deserve your help? The truth is you could have been that had you not been given your circumstance. That comes from God or chance or whatever you want to call it. Either way, you my friends could be on the street. Don’t act like your work ethic got you everything you have. Come down from your tower. Its self-righteousness like this that brought down Jerusalem and it is what is tearing down this country. So take a deep breath, be thankful for what you’ve been given, and have a little hope that our country might have the one guy in office who really sees the problems and has some legitimate (while costly) answers to fix them.

(USSR) United States Socailist Republic.We were warned ,nobody listened.

CHA-CHIIIIIN!!!Man, this guy can sure spend money. Npw, THAT’S change your GOING to believe in, whether you like it or not!!

No debt has ever been resolved by creating more debt.
The stimulus bill is not about creating jobs or economic growth. It’s about Liberal agendas, expanding government control and pork spending to make good on the promises made for the money donated to get Obama elected.
The pork programs that Obama claims will stimulate jobs arn’t even going to start for a couple of years, so with all the unemployment, guess who’s paychecks the Feds are going to confiscate to pay back the debt the Liberals thugs are forcing on the private sector? If you guessed “everybodies”, your right! Even the Chineese who have been buying up America left and right are now afraid of a US economic collapse and money coming from them has slowed.
As far as increasing taxes on the rich, 62% of America’s taxes are already being paid by only 7% of its citizens. So why do all of you whinners with your hands out think its fair that those who earn more money should dole out more to pay for idiots who can’t run a business. Why should they or any other person be expected to pay for health care for everyone else, including illegals? In a Capitalistic society, no one should. And the Federal Government is not set up to consficate money from American citizens to give to private businesses or pay everybody’s doctor bills. It’s against Constitutional Law. If they would quit stealing from everybody’s paychecks, people could afford to pay their own health care, as it was meant to be. The reason health care costs are so high now is because the Feds interfered. If anyone thinks universal health care is a good idea, then do some research on the British and Canadian health care nightmare. The Feds don’t care about any citizens health, they care about having control over every thing and everybody.
Obama’s spending spree is now up to $3.6 trillion. I don’t know what mental block has John so hung up on the Bush Administration but it’s time he stopped worring about what was and start thinking about what is. And what is, is three times more debt than Bush racked up!
What’ya gonn’a do Patriots, stand by or stand up?

Oh…and one more thing…we are NOT entitled to have universal health care. Give me a break! Go live in Canada or Britain and then come back and tell us you think universal health care is a good idea. Yes, it needs reform..but why? Let me say this really slow…BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY RUNS A GOOD PORTION OF THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ALREADY!!! Doh!

a new morning, more “good” news on the stock market, courtesy of obama’s “change you can believe in”.
is everyone stocking up…if not, you had better get started cause the worst future imaginable, again courtesy of obama, is headed your way!

I have never been more certain than this moment that I voted for the right candidate…McCain.

The positive: Honest reporting of the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
The negative: The government is asking us to absorb some “pain”, but not sharing in it themselves. Why no pay freezes? How about all of those trips by congress and their families on military jets? Why not a cut in staff for the White House and congres?
How can we continue to spend more money than we take-in? If he really wants his programs for healthcare, education and the environment, then make the painful cuts in other programs. Raising taxes on the wealthy won’t come close to paying for all this. If you taxed the top 5% of earners at 100%, it still wouldn’t pay for his programs.
Also, how is it “fair” that 40% of the population pays no income tax?

Marie,
These blogs reflect your comment that we are indeed a nation of differences. We all have the right to speak out and give our opinions. I do not believe however that we must embrace those differences. We can listen to them and reflect on them but certainly not have to embrace them.
Regardless, you seem like a very nice lady.

Jen,
I will simplify it for you. Private companies invented these dangerous financial instruments. They were encouraged by the profit motive.
The government failed to provide sufficient oversight. Fair enough. What did you expect of regulators appointed by a Republican administration?
Cops go after the fence, the people who accept stolen goods, because they understand that without a place to sell stolen goods there is less motivation to steal.
Private individuals discovered that they — by taking advantage of the antiregualtion sentiments of Republican regulators, appointed by a Republican administration — they could profit by selling questionable mortgages and reselling them in the form of asset backed securities to foolish and greedy investment banks down the line.

John:
I have news for you…this type of lending that has caused this crisis, goes much farther back than the last eight years. Make no mistake..both parties are responsible. To think otherwise is just plain ignorance of the facts. Look who has been on the House Financial Services Committee…formerly known as the House Banking Committee…none other than Barney Frank and Chris Dodd..and if I am not mistaken, I believe Barney Frank is the chairman. Correct me if I am wrong..but I think he is a democrats. But that isn’t really my point…you, in fact, have missed my point completely. The government itself is completely corrupt because of the lobbying money flowing into it for special favors. Pay to play. Don’t pay, don’t get to play. This is EXACTLY how these ridiculous financial products were made available to those who wanted something for nothing and for those who wanted to take advantage of people who didn’t have enough sophistication to know better. The banks make their contributions in return for the government either looking the other way, adopting rules and or tax loopholes for these companies to benefit from.
Republicans are not at fault for all that ails America. Quite the contrary…I believe the citizenry as a whole is responsible for what ails America as our legislature is merely a reflection of the general public.

His budget isn’t set in stone until Congress approves it.
He is using such large numbers as bargaining chips; kind of like what he should have done with the tax cuts in the bailout bill. He will be able to negotiate the numbers with Congress down to a level he needs in order to run the necessary programs. So, it will decrease. How much will it decrease, I don’t know. BUT, it will take Democrats and Republicans and the American people to help bring it down.
As much as I hate to see a lot of spending when the economy is in the toilet and dumping our dept on future generations, FDR had to spend money in order to create the programs that got people back to work, which started the economies slow recovery back then.
The only thing we can do until the economy finds its bottom is hold our head up high, and be confident that everything will work out.

Mr. President
Why are we giving the Palistinians $900 million when our own country is sinking further and further in dept.
I thought you were going to help us!!! Your own country!!!!!
ABC maybe you can ask the president the same question.

We’re all going to suffer from what Obama is doing. How can ANYONE justify spending the amount of money he is spending? The well to do individual or business owner will have no incentive to be that way when they can get aid or when everything they worked so hard for means nothing. Moving to another country is starting to sound a lot more appealing to me..