You didn build that !

JoeinNY wrote: In general I do feel we all owe more than we are currently paying because the current rates are not enough to cover what we are spending much less enough to pay back what we have already spent.

Joe, If you think that will solve our problem maybe we should start giving more liquor to alcoholics and More fatty foods to the morbidly obese. We have a spending and entitlement problem. In the 1950's we had 15 people in the private sector for every 1 on the government payroll(government employees and those living on entitlements). Today it is 1.2 private sector employes for every 1 government supported. That is not sustainable. There is no evidence that giving the government more money leads to a reduced deficit, in fact studies have proven that government spending increases faster that the income increase. To give the government an extra cent without first getting spending reduced and a balanced budget agreement is just shooting ourselves in the foot. To claim anything else is sheer denial, and just a justification for those that think the government can spend our money better than we can.

JoeinNY wrote: Call me crazy but I would rather start paying back the money we all owe than to keep running up the credit card. When we arent even willing to tax at the rate required to keep up with what we have already spent then we will never pay down that debt.

Call me crazy but I would rather tear up the credit card and live on a realistic budget. When we are not required to live within our means we will never pay down the debt.

Waldo wrote: The 1979 Ski Nautique is probably my favorite boat. What do you guys think? Waldo

Ahh, not to old, not to new, you must be a moderate. Every read the book "Great Moderates In History"..... It will never be written.

It all evens out Joe,for example here in Illinois you still get to vote after your gone thus making up for when you were too young

That wouldnt be a bad idea at all, the second we passed a balanced budget amendment that is. Until then you might as well just write a check to the nearest billionaire.

I do hold you slightly more responsible for the national debt than me.. as you have been old enough to vote for longer.

Here my comments are specifically in response to those who think they owe nothing to support the government that they take from, and in this case are down right angry for it to even be suggested that they might in fact owe for the benefit they have derived.   

In general I do feel we all owe more than we are currently paying because the current rates are not enough to cover what we are spending much less enough to pay back what we have already spent.

My overall tax rate between various income tax, sales tax, property tax, gas tax.. at all levels is right around 43% (it would be 50% if I didnt take full advantage of the 401k tax loophole) of what I make a year, if warren buffet and mitt romney are paying less than 20% a year, if GE is paying nothing then they are all not paying thier fair share.

I dont know why you are feeling so guilty about your rate?

You are never going to get me to agree that we should all be paying equal dollar amounts and not equal rates as apple certainly derives much more benefit from the government than I do and income is as good an indicator of that benefit as any and better than most.

Call me crazy but I would rather start paying back the money we all owe than to keep running up the credit card. When we arent even willing to tax at the rate required to keep up with what we have already spent then we will never pay down that debt.

It is part of Obama's take credit for everything and blame for nothing campaign. You need to adjust your way of seeing things to understand. If you don't get it you are a blocker, and or a racist. Once you come around it will all be clear, you will know just how to vote in November, America will become Utopia and we can all sing Kum Ba YA!

apparently in your world you call eating your share then leaving before paying for your share of the bill buying lunch for the group?

Your logic is not logical and your statement of fact
"the government produces nothing" is not fact and therefore not useful as start of logical arguement. Our government produces a large portion of the goods and services consumed in our economy each year. It does this at the direction of our elected officals. That is reality.

In the famous words of Hillary Clinton....."It takes a village"!

Obama said in a speech yesterday that business is indebted to government for the infrastructure the government provides. Since the government produces nothing and thus cannot create its own revenue, just who does Obama think PAID for that infrastructure. Should he not be saying thank you and feel indebted to us? Arrogance.