When do we really get to "soak the rich"?

[seanobrgp]

Originally Posted by SteamWake

Thats one hellua first post right there.

Apologies if I came across too strongly -- that certainly wasn't my intent.

The issue of entitlement spending is a conundrum. I think the Republican Party's reluctance to outline a credible reform plan is an admission on their part that, while the rhetoric is proving successful in the immediate term, the majority of Americans are unwilling to accept a disruption in the benefits they currently or intend to receive upon eligibility. Any discussion of how we can bring these programs back to fiscal solvency and reign in the deficit has to respect that boundary -- or make a credible effort to preserve as much of the safety net as possible.

What's most disconcerting to me is the culture of expectation and ignorance that we're seeing play out. There appears to be a large subset of our society that has been taught to want all things with none of their obligations; to accept grandiose assurances, but not the grandiose costs that go with them. Separating myself from ideology, the succinct truth is this: if we want to guarantee an individuals' retirement, health care for the elderly and infirm, and provide for the destitute and unfortunate, then we must accept that these initiatives will soon be unsupportable at our current level of taxation. Social Security is rectifiable; Medicare, with an unfunded liability of $38 trillion? Probably not. If we want progress on this issue, we first have to convince the electorate that our present path is unsustainable and a re-examination of entitlement spending is in our collective self-interest to prevent some dire consequences.

We have to be accountable as a nation, and maybe that has to start with what type of society we aspire to be. If the majority of Americans want comprehensive amenities resembling those you would find in Europe, it will require their marginal tax rates or an additional VAT to comfortably support them, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. Whatever the outcome, the time to start reform is now -- but impoverishing a third to half of the elderly population is never going to a tenable prospect.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by seanobrgp

Apologies if I came across too strongly -- that certainly wasn't my intent.

The issue of entitlement spending is a conundrum. I think the Republican Party's reluctance to outline a credible reform plan is an admission on their part that, while the rhetoric is proving successful in the immediate term, the majority of Americans are unwilling to accept a disruption in the benefits they currently or intend to receive upon eligibility. Any discussion of how we can bring these programs back to fiscal solvency and reign in the deficit has to respect that boundary -- or make a credible effort to preserve as much of the safety net as possible.

What's most disconcerting to me is the culture of expectation and ignorance that we're seeing play out. There appears to be a large subset of our society that has been taught to want all things with none of their obligations; to accept grandiose assurances, but not the grandiose costs that go with them. Separating myself from ideology, the succinct truth is this: if we want to guarantee an individuals' retirement, health care for the elderly and infirm, and provide for the destitute and unfortunate, then we must accept that these initiatives will soon be unsupportable at our current level of taxation. Social Security is rectifiable; Medicare, with an unfunded liability of $38 trillion? Probably not. If we want progress on this issue, we first have to convince the electorate that our present path is unsustainable and a re-examination of entitlement spending is in our collective self-interest to prevent some dire consequences.

We have to be accountable as a nation, and maybe that has to start with what type of society we aspire to be. If the majority of Americans want comprehensive amenities resembling those you would find in Europe, it will require their marginal tax rates or an additional VAT to comfortably support them, and we shouldn't pretend otherwise. Whatever the outcome, the time to start reform is now -- but impoverishing a third to half of the elderly population is never going to a tenable prospect.

I don't wish to sidetrack you, but I assume from your age that you are in college. May I ask what your major is? I do not agree with all of your points, but your prose is excellent and your logic is well-supported. I wish that more of my students wrote half as well.

[seanobrgp]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I don't wish to sidetrack you, but I assume from your age that you are in college. May I ask what your major is? I do not agree with all of your points, but your prose is excellent and your logic is well-supported. I wish that more of my students wrote half as well.

Computer science -- the major of people who can't communicate, so I appreciate the compliment.

I thought I could contribute a different perspective to the discussion, being a college-aged Republican when others of my demographic are overwhelmingly liberal or apathetic, but also because I reside in one of the country's most liberal states. I've received the odd askew glance before, yet it's forced me to try to learn as much as possible to combat the echo chamber, and that's a positive.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by seanobrgp

Computer science -- the major of people who can't communicate, so I appreciate the compliment.

I thought I could contribute a different perspective to the discussion, being a college-aged Republican when others of my demographic are overwhelmingly liberal or apathetic, but also because I reside in one of the country's most liberal states. I've received the odd askew glance before, yet it's forced me to try to learn as much as possible to combat the echo chamber, and that's a positive.

I'd say you're doing quite well. Kudos to you on actually analyzing an issue instead of falling back on the intellectually lazy talking points.

[SteamWake]

Originally Posted by seanobrgp

Apologies if I came across too strongly -- that certainly wasn't my intent.

Not its just that pepole dont usually drop in a several paragraph half page post in a political discussion thread as their first post is all.

It is usually "Why dont this mod werk"