GWB rebate v. war budget ... odd coincidence

[quade 4]

Is it just me or is their an odd coincidence in the amount for the "rebate" GWB gave us versus the amount he now wants to spend on the Iraqi situation?

As you may recall, GWB gave us on average about $300. Well, actually, he didn't give it to us, it was really just an early refund on taxes we'd already paid. This was supposed to stimulate enconomic growth though the U.S. -- like hell yeah! That worked just fine didn't it?!?

What I find interesting is that the amount he's now asking so that he can deal with the Iraqi situation works out to about $320 per person.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3517-2003Feb26.html

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[BoobieCootie 0]

Where's the $320 figure?

[billvon 3,118]

>What I find interesting is that the amount he's now asking so that he
>can deal with the Iraqi situation works out to about $320 per person.

You're using math, Quade, and math has no place in voodoo economics. He will simply spend the money AND cut taxes, bottom line be damned. The dollar won't collapse until the next administration takes office, at which point he'll simply blame the democrats.

[Push 0]

Quote

Bush Wants Up to $95 Billion to Cover Cost of War-WSJ

$95 billion divided by 300 million people in the US = $316.17

-- Toggle Whippin' Yahoo
Skydiving is easy. All you have to do is relax while plummetting at 120 mph from 10,000' with nothing but some nylon and webbing to save you.

[ltdiver 3]

Quote

Quote

Bush Wants Up to $95 Billion to Cover Cost of War-WSJ

$95 billion divided by 300 million people in the US = $316.17

Guess the $16.17 is interest.

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[PhillyKev 0]

Oh I just loved that tax "rebate". The best part about it was it just reduced our refund or added to the amount you had to pay 6 months later by an equal amount. Not to mention the cost to taxpayers for mailing the checks and the letter mailed to everyone telling you that you would be getting a check in the mail the next week.

[Muenkel 0]

The homeless shelter I signed mine over to was very thankful.

Chris

_________________________________________
Chris

[PhillyKev 0]

I'm sure they were. But think about how much money could have been given to them if the postage used to send those letters and checks were used for social services instead of a weak political grand stand.

[FallRate 0]

Quote

The dollar won't collapse until the next administration takes office, at which point he'll simply blame the democrats.

That seems fair. In much the same way that everyone blames Bush for our current economic slowdown. I have wondered how it is that Bush could have been responsible for a the overvaluation of the stock markets in the mid-90s. Guess he's a super evil jeen-yus.

FallRate

[cameramonkey 0]

Quote

Quote

The dollar won't collapse until the next administration takes office, at which point he'll simply blame the democrats.

That seems fair. In much the same way that everyone blames Bush for our current economic slowdown. I have wondered how it is that Bush could have been responsible for a the overvaluation of the stock markets in the mid-90s. Guess he's a super evil jeen-yus.

FallRate

Exactly.... Damn commie Liberals.

Two wrongs don't make a right, however three lefts DO!

[quade 4]

You seem to be missing the point.

While Republicans typically call Democrats the "Tax and Spend" party, they themselves should generally be considered the "Give a Tax Cut and Spend Anyway Party".

In other words, the Republicans have this really nasty fiscal habit of passing along the country's debt to future generations while the Democrats just want to pay it off and get back to solvency. While this may look pretty good to AARP members, I would think this pisses off people fairly new to the system.

Hence the addage, "You may have been born a Democrat, but you'll die a Republican."

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[FallRate 0]

Quote

while the Democrats just want to pay it off and get back to solvency.

Really? Interestingly, while the budget deficit increased dramatically in the 80's the "power of the purse" was controlled by...anyone?...anyone?...yes, the democrats, as they had majority control of congress.

FallRate

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

You seem to be missing the point.

While Republicans typically call Democrats the "Tax and Spend" party, they themselves should generally be considered the "Give a Tax Cut and Spend Anyway Party".

In other words, the Republicans have this really nasty fiscal habit of passing along the country's debt to future generations while the Democrats just want to pay it off and get back to solvency. While this may look pretty good to AARP members, I would think this pisses off people fairly new to the system.

Hence the addage, "You may have been born a Democrat, but you'll die a Republican."

I seem to recall it differently than you do Quade. Wasn't it the Republicans in Congress who dragged Bill Clinton and the Democrats, screaming and kicking, into a balanced budget during the 90's?

[kmcguffee 0]

Quote

Wasn't it the Republicans in Congress who dragged Bill Clinton and the Democrats, screaming and kicking, into a balanced budget during the 90's?

That is what I remember too.

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

[goindown 0]

Don't you find it amazing that it really doesn't matter. Your vote doesn't really count.

[goindown 0]

Well, all I know is that Geo W. wants to blow away Saddam . . . we probably wouldn't be where we are at now in history if the last man at the helm was paying attention to the world scene instead of being blown away by Monica.

[kallend 2,148]

Quote

Well, all I know is that Geo W. wants to blow away Saddam . . . we probably wouldn't be where we are at now in history if the last man at the helm was paying attention to the world scene instead of being blown away by Monica.

White House and both houses of Congress in Republican hands and the defecit for the year is projected to be the largest in history. Hmmm.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[FallRate 0]

Projected to be the largest in History? That would make sense...IF we go to war.

During WWII the cost of military spending approached half of the US GNP. This was easily accomodated at the time considering that prior to the war the US Federal Government operated with very little reliance on the Federal Income Tax, which prior to the war applied to only 5% of the population. So by expanding this tax, the gap in spending was easily bridged. As our government has become accustomed to having this revenue during times of peace, it would make sense that another large scale war would cause serious difficulties in balancing the budget.

And which party has controlled Congress for the vast majority of time since this broad expansion of the Federal Income Tax? Anyone?

"Hmm?".... indeed!

FallRate

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Projected to be the largest in History? That would make sense...IF we go to war.

During WWII the cost of military spending approached half of the US GNP. This was easily accomodated at the time considering that prior to the war the US Federal Government operated with very little reliance on the Federal Income Tax, which prior to the war applied to only 5% of the population. So by expanding this tax, the gap in spending was easily bridged. As our government has become accustomed to having this revenue during times of peace, it would make sense that another large scale war would cause serious difficulties in balancing the budget.

And which party has controlled Congress for the vast majority of time since this broad expansion of the Federal Income Tax? Anyone?

"Hmm?".... indeed!

FallRate

I also get a kick out of those who whine about the cost of going to war and how much the long term cost will be.
After the Gulf War in 1991, 80% of the 80 Billion the U.S. spent was reimbursed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Remember, Iraq is not without natural resources. I'm sure going to enjoy filling up my SUV with that $.49 per gallon Iraqi oil.

Hmmmm......... I kinda like that idea.

[kallend 2,148]

Quote

Quote

Projected to be the largest in History? That would make sense...IF we go to war.

During WWII the cost of military spending approached half of the US GNP. This was easily accomodated at the time considering that prior to the war the US Federal Government operated with very little reliance on the Federal Income Tax, which prior to the war applied to only 5% of the population. So by expanding this tax, the gap in spending was easily bridged. As our government has become accustomed to having this revenue during times of peace, it would make sense that another large scale war would cause serious difficulties in balancing the budget.

And which party has controlled Congress for the vast majority of time since this broad expansion of the Federal Income Tax? Anyone?

"Hmm?".... indeed!

FallRate

I also get a kick out of those who whine about the cost of going to war and how much the long term cost will be.
After the Gulf War in 1991, 80% of the 80 Billion the U.S. spent was reimbursed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Remember, Iraq is not without natural resources. I'm sure going to enjoy filling up my SUV with that $.49 per gallon Iraqi oil.

Hmmmm......... I kinda like that idea.

So you're saying it's all about oil!

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"So you're saying it's all about oil! "

NOOOOo....not that old chestnut again....

If I were a really bad guy, with poor taste in moustache fashion, and the most powerful military force in world history was arrayed against me,
and they were after my oilwells.... I'd use one of my (obviously many) nuclear devices and irradiate the oilfields at the same time as I set fire to them....

Or pop a few anthrax jars, and preclude human presence for about 40 years.....

Thus denying the 'Great Satan' his prize. Kind of an 'up yours' similar to the one he gave us during the retreat from Kuwait, only much more obvious this time.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[billvon 3,118]

>Or pop a few anthrax jars, and preclude human presence for about 40 years.....

And why would that stop us from using them? Cheap oil is certainly worth human lives; our actions in the past make that pretty clear. Pay oil workers enough and they will risk anthrax to make a well produce.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Pay oil workers enough and they will risk anthrax to make a well produce."

One maybe, perhaps two, but entire fields.....mmmm...dunno 'bout that. And there are better ways to screw up a well than just simply blowing the xmas tree off the top of the conductor/casing.

Us oil workers put up with a lot of 'risky' things, but just as in skydiving, if the risks are managed (which is what I do for a living) we will go into hazardous situations...on a daily, almost routine basis.

I just chose anthrax as an example, there are much nastier, longer lasting contaminants available.
A small island about 1/2 mile off the west coast of Scotland was deliberately infected with anthrax during WW2, google for 'Gruinard' of your interested, it was closed for about 48 years, its now open again but nobody wants to go there anymore....

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

I also get a kick out of those who whine about the cost of going to war and how much the long term cost will be.
After the Gulf War in 1991, 80% of the 80 Billion the U.S. spent was reimbursed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Remember, Iraq is not without natural resources. I'm sure going to enjoy filling up my SUV with that $.49 per gallon Iraqi oil.

Hmmmm......... I kinda like that idea.

So you're saying it's all about oil!

Heh, heh, nice try Kallend!!

Did you hear the Queen of the Looney-Left is supporting Bush?
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/69808.htm

Guess there's still some hope. eh?

[billvon 3,118]

>A small island about 1/2 mile off the west coast of Scotland was
> deliberately infected with anthrax during WW2, google for 'Gruinard'
> of your interested, it was closed for about 48 years, its now open
> again but nobody wants to go there anymore....

There are people who do far riskier things on a regular basis. If the money is there they'll do it. That's the way capitalism works - if the reward is large enough the risk becomes manageable.

Would you take a .5% chance of death to make $100k in a week? Even if you had to spend 4 hours a day in an uncomfortable hazmat suit, and 4 hours scrubbing at the end of the day?