The Simpson-Bowles Plan..Why Aren't we Doing This???

[tydas]

Call me confused, seems that both sides have conceded items and hard decisions were made...why aren't we doing this right now???

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sit...files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf

http://www.enacttheplan.org/national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

For starters the healthcare part means you won't have any. The aging demographic means an increase in costs beyond the allowed amount. They might as well create a new law revoking gravity.

 

[nageov3t]

because politicians care more about getting reelected than anything else.

 

[cybrsage]

They might as well create a new law revoking gravity.

If they revoked it in specific locations - say inside some areas of amusement parks - that would be awesome!

 

[Pr0d1gy]

If they revoked it in specific locations - say inside some areas of amusement parks - that would be awesome!

I can tell you they revoke gravity several times on the Tower of Terror everytime you ride it. hahahah fun stuff

 

[HomerJS]

Call me confused, seems that both sides have conceded items and hard decisions were made...why aren't we doing this right now???

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sit...files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf

http://www.enacttheplan.org/national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

Because the GOP refuse to discuss revenue

 

[nageov3t]

Because the GOP refuse to discuss revenue

the Democrats couldn't run away from Simpson Bowls fast enough, even though it was Obama's commission.

I can't recall hearing a word about it from the man himself.

 

[fskimospy]

This is a pretty good breakdown of why:
http://capitalgainsandgames.com/blog/stan-collender/2530/bowles-simpson-dead-edsel

 

[Pr0d1gy]

The B-S cult....that made me LOL.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

Grover Norquist.

Until revenues are put on the table the discussion goes nowhere.

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

THeres no denying that Democrats have been willing to consider cuts yet Republicans have put raising revenue off the table.

Until that changes this will never happen.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

THeres no denying that Democrats have been willing to consider cuts yet Republicans have put raising revenue off the table.

Until that changes this will never happen.

A problem I have is that we discuss cuts and revenue but reform isn't important. We need certain programs, but an examination of how their performance and efficiency compared to their stated objectives never happens. The concept of value simply seems not to exist.

 

[fskimospy]

A problem I have is that we discuss cuts and revenue but reform isn't important. We need certain programs, but an examination of how their performance and efficiency compared to their stated objectives never happens. The concept of value simply seems not to exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Accountability_Office

 

[Mursilis]

Call me confused, seems that both sides have conceded items and hard decisions were made...why aren't we doing this right now???

http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sit...files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf

http://www.enacttheplan.org/national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

Because people really don't care about deficits. Why do you think most democracies run deficits? It's like dieting - the obese will agree that they need to eat less, but few of them want to do it, so few of them actually do.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Accountability_Office

So the GAO has determined that Medicaid is serving people as best as is possible? Perhaps we need a meta GAO.

 

[Phokus]

Part of Simpsons Bowels is equal cuts to social spending and military spending.

Because while Democrats are willing to non-defense cuts as long as Republicans agree to military cuts, Republicans renegged on that deal.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...rs-renege-on-debt-limit-deal-defense-cuts.php

Republicans are putting party before country. They should be tried for treason.

REPUBLICANS ARE THE PROBLEM. STOP PRETENDING BOTH PARTIES ARE "EQUALLY" BAD"

 

[fskimospy]

So the GAO has determined that Medicaid is serving people as best as is possible? Perhaps we need a meta GAO.

I don't know where you got that idea. You claimed nobody is checking for inefficiencies, etc. I was just showing you that there is quite a large office whose only purpose is to do just that.

 

[nageov3t]

Part of Simpsons Bowels is equal cuts to social spending and military spending.

Because while Democrats are willing to non-defense cuts as long as Republicans agree to military cuts, Republicans renegged on that deal.

what did the Democrats do to try and advance the reforms suggested by Simpson-Bowels?

My suspicion is that the Commission was abandoned because the Democrats were too queasy with the proposed entitlement cuts (and the loss of an electoral weapon) and the Obamaites were too politically scared of the real defense cuts Bowles-Simpson proposed. So they got nothing. It's easily Obama's biggest mistake in his first three years. Even if he had lost, and Bowles-Simpson had gone down in partisan flames, by identifying himself unequivocally with bipartisan long-term debt reduction, Obama would have innoculated himself on the issue with Independents. And charted the right long term strategy.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/2012/02/obamas-bowles-simpson-screw-up.html

 

[Phokus]

what did the Democrats do to try and advance the reforms suggested by Simpson-Bowels?

Did... you read my post... at all?

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...rs-renege-on-debt-limit-deal-defense-cuts.php

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

I don't know where you got that idea. You claimed nobody is checking for inefficiencies, etc. I was just showing you that there is quite a large office whose only purpose is to do just that.

I think you missed the level at which I was thinking. The function of the GAO is to make a particular office or governmental department less wasteful than it would otherwise be. I approve of that function. What I meant was that what they are policing is often not the best solution which is beyond their rightful jurisdiction. The concept of a meta-GAO isn't just a retort, but if there were an established body charged with continually monitoring policy in intent and the results in terms of what was attained then there would be a self correcting mechanism when the laws of unintended consequences kick in. Obviously not being a legislative body in itself they could not enact changes, but they could regularly make a public report and recommendations. If such an entity exists which is active and comprehensive in it's scope, I can't think of what that would be.