Sensible fiscal reform

[Anarchist420]

Just let the Bush income tax cuts expire completely. Don't tax the 1st 25k of payroll, eliminate the corporate tax or at least halve it, if it's not politically feasible to eliminate it. Revenue lost from the corporate tax cut isn't lost--it's recaptured via sales, CG, or individual income taxes.

Then, raise the SS age to 76 and reduce payments to those already on SS and over 76 by 10-15%.

reduce or even repeal shit like subsidies for unemployment. No one would complain with the payroll tax cut.

Raise interest rates.

I know that last part was monetary policy, but if we did all of that, the economy would be back on track again.

What the hell is wrong with this plan?

 

[Brigandier]

The old people would revolt. It would be the most comical revolution in history, the million walker walk led by Andy Rooney would swallow Washington DC whole.

Honestly, because if all that happened there would be a lot more visible signs of the decay of America. Imagine if instead of people being fed by food stamps you saw sallow, droopy, hungry, poor people?

 

[Brainonska511]

Sensible

Too late for that considering the OP.

 

[Darwin333]

The old people would revolt. It would be the most comical revolution in history, the million walker walk led by Andy Rooney would swallow Washington DC whole.

Honestly, because if all that happened there would be a lot more visible signs of the decay of America. Imagine if instead of people being fed by food stamps you saw sallow, droopy, hungry, poor people?

Hungry people tend to do things we consider bad in civilized society. Little things like killing you for your food. Hunger is the best motivator known to mankind and it often motivates people to do good things but if there are no good options (even if its just perception) it will motivate even good people to do bad things.

Most people I know are good decent people. Almost all of them are God fearing Catholics. Almost all of them would resort to damn near anything if their children were hungry.


Bottom line: Hungry people=bad for civilized society.

 

[shira]

Why not just kill everyone 65 and over? SS and health-system problems solved AND you've got a rich new nutrition source.

Which just goes to prove that old science fiction flicks (Logan's Run, Soylent Green) hold all the answers to our problems.

 

[dca221]

Can someone with facts help here? I am wondering how much Social Security takes in taxes vs. distributes? I thought it has a surplus until 2040 roughly, and then starts distributing more than it takes in

If that is the case, you would be cutting benefits for the part of the budget that actually produces a surplus to subsidize other parts that produce a surplus

It would be better to look at each part of the budget and have a sensible debate:
- what does SS take in and distribute? it has taxes designated for it
- what do Medicare/Medicaid take in and distribute? they have taxes designated for them
- what are the rest of the income and other taxes that support the Defense and Discretionary expenses? what is the level of surplus/deficit there?

This way, the public can clearly see what the revenues and expenses are and where the money goes, and have an informed debate about it

I'd rather do the following:
- increase the income taxes slightly (back to Clinton levels) (in two, three years possibly)
- cut the defense budget by a good 30-40%
- cut the discretionary budget by ~10-15%. There has to be some waste there that can come out when pushed hard. Be sure to appoint some objective people to analyze each department and identify cost reduction initiatives
- have a real debate around entitlements. I am more inclined to leave SS alone as is, and possibly increase the cap on SS taxes from ~100K to $500K. Then I would look at MD/MA for cost reductions. Look at both the reduction in benefits (e.g., deductibles) and reduction in cost of care. The 2nd part would actually require a more thorough review of why cost of care is so much higher in the US while the outcomes are so much worse compared to just about every other developed country. I am really doubtful a real debate can happen here, though, given all the hysteria around the "insurance" reform

 

[her209]

Can someone with facts help here? I am wondering how much Social Security takes in taxes vs. distributes? I thought it has a surplus until 2040 roughly, and then starts distributing more than it takes in

Going off from memory, Social Security was set to pay out more than it took in in 2016, however, due to the recession, this year or last year, that happened.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'd rather do the following:
- increase the income taxes slightly (back to Clinton levels) (in two, three years possibly)
- cut the defense budget by a good 30-40%
- cut the discretionary budget by ~10-15%. There has to be some waste there that can come out when pushed hard. Be sure to appoint some objective people to analyze each department and identify cost reduction initiatives
- have a real debate around entitlements. I am more inclined to leave SS alone as is, and possibly increase the cap on SS taxes from ~100K to $500K. Then I would look at MD/MA for cost reductions. Look at both the reduction in benefits (e.g., deductibles) and reduction in cost of care. The 2nd part would actually require a more thorough review of why cost of care is so much higher in the US while the outcomes are so much worse compared to just about every other developed country. I am really doubtful a real debate can happen here, though, given all the hysteria around the "insurance" reform

Your post is far too sensible and lucid to be appearing in an anarchist thread.

Back to Soylent Green and Carousel, please, those are more appropriate solutions.