Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Republicans Make Counteroffer in Fiscal Talks
Now that December is upon us, and the fiscal cliff is rapidly approaching, Republicans and Democrats find themselves countering back and forth on their deficit reduction proposals. The GOP plan asserts that over the next decade deficit savings would be $4.6 trillion, they also proposed $600 billion in cuts to federal health care programs. The White House was critical of the plan, especially because of the Republican's unwillingness to increase taxes on the wealthy. In order to provide a reasonable, promising plan before the deadline approaches, the Democrats and Republicans will need to set aside some predispositions and work together.
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I don't believe cuts to health care programs are good for our country right now or in the long run. I also believe that tax increases are necessary, but the wealthy should be taxed more. Regardless of what plan is chosen to deal with the fiscal cliff, Republicans and Democrats need to work together to rebuild our economy.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with Talia. Most notably for me, is the push of most Democrats to tax the wealthy more, but you cannot keep taxing and taxing more and more if the money is just going to be wasted away. Program cuts are necessary as well. We cannot be a country reliant on increasing taxes time and time again. I agree with the latter half of your statement though that there needs to be more of a push to come together because nothing will be productive if the two parties cannot put predispositions aside.
ReplyDeleteI agree tax money can't be wasted, but we also cannot cut funds to important programs. Also, if we establish a strong tax plan now, we won't have to continue taxing more and more.
DeleteI like the Republican plan (personally I think it could still cut more from programs) but sacrificing the Bush-era tax cuts is probably going to be an inevitable in order to get a deal passed. It would be a wise move to give up this issue in order to achieve the rest of the agenda and avoid going over the fiscal cliff. I understand why Republicans are loathe to raise tax rates, but I don't know why they're so hard-lined on this issue. I think this harkens back to the failed "Contract With America"; this time around Republicans cannot afford to be so partisan as to halt progress.
ReplyDeleteRegardless of how our government attempts to minimize the defecit they must do it soon and in compromise with each other. Cutting health care progrms would hurt our country far more than help it. Taxes should be the primary way to minimize the defecit.
ReplyDeleteI agree that a compromise must be reached as promptly as possible. As the article makes clear, there are only weeks left before a decision is to be made. The article does not provide an exhaustive list of the programs that are being cut, and it is hard to justify the cuts without knowing what exactly will be cut. Raising taxes will surely be unpopular, but whatever the government decides to do, they must remember that the primary goal is to lower the staggering deficit.
DeleteWhile the Democratic and Republican parties have very differentiating views and beliefs, they need to work together to come up with some kind of plan soon. Some things need to be set aside before everything gets worse for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree that if we're ever going to have some change with the national debt, Democrats and Republicans need to compromise on several things. If the Bush tax cuts are what needs to be done, then fine. I also disagree with Talia that she feels the wealthy need to be taxed more. I once saw a video of a moderate (slightly more right wing than left) that calculated how long the rich could fund our government- and let me tell you, it wasn't that long. The numbers were if everyone who make 250,000 or more a year had every penny taken away from them. It doesn't work. The money just gets depleted and won't cover anything. In addition, I don't feel it's morally right to tax one group of people more than the others. Since when has being successful meant that you get your hard-earned money taken away?
ReplyDeleteI am a huge supporter of tax hikes, which is probably the reason I will never be elected to anything. The government cannot operate without income, and the best income they have available is taxing. And I think the Democrats still don't understand how much taxing they would need. I agree with Sam in that just taxing just the rich would not be enough, so I propose tax hikes on everyone who can take it, including middle class. I also like budget cuts, but in less important things, like the military. (If you would like to argue with me about that, leave a reply.)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Grace that efficient spending cuts as well as allowing the bush tax cuts to expire is what will be best for the country
ReplyDeleteI am with Jeff on allowing the bush tax cuts to expire but I am still amazed that Republicans have dug in so much against even the slightest raise in taxes on the wealthy. It's one thing to be opposed to them but this level of opposition is detrimental to any sort of negotiation that is greatly needed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Grace as well, except I don't see anything wrong with increasing taxes. Only taxing the wealthier more would be a waste of money, but also making these other efforts would create a nice balance. Either way, it's apparent that both sides are going to have to budge.
ReplyDeleteTaxation should definitely be made to the upper echelon or 1% of the population. This money could help reduce the gap between the income brought in by the lower and upper class via funding being given to government programs (rather than overseas wars). We need to reunite as a nation, democrats and republicans.
ReplyDeleteI believe that increased taxes on the super wealth people is a must. And honestly, why not? Even if it's just the top .5%. These people make millions if not billions every year, and I don't think a few increased taxes will really change their lifestyle. There is the argument about whether or not it's "fair" to make them spend more of their income but I don't think anything about their lives will change.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Shannon said. Differences need to be put aside when everyone will be affected. This problem is not going away... and needs to be dealt with to fix it.
ReplyDeleteI think we should increase taxes on the wealthy and cut some programs or parts of some programs. By doing both, it is a compromise between the parties and it will also decrease the deficit faster.
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