Taking a poll on the problem in America: I wish a moderator would ask the two candidates this simple fundamental question: We borrow $0.40 of every dollar we spend in this country. Do...

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

I wish a moderator would ask the two candidates this simple fundamental question:

We borrow $0.40 of every dollar we spend in this country. Do you believe that we A) Spend too much as a nation or B) Don't collect enough in revenues? No talking around the question....I want an answer....A or B.

I know the answer in the real world is somewhere in the middle, but it's not dead center. Therefore it's closer to A or B on the spectrum....what do you fundamentally believe?

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Neither !

But A is close... The question should be "Do we spend too much on the WRONG things as a nation...

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

donrent wrote:

Neither !

But A is close... The question should be "Do we spend too much on the WRONG things as a nation...

I hear ya Don and I'd probably tend to agree, but I'm trying to boil it down to the general opinion of the people here specifically along these lines. I'd love to nail down the candidates on it, but that'll never happen.

By your definition some would say War/Defense is the wrong thing others would say the "Safety Net" is too big. I'm trying to understand if folks think we give enough to the central Gov't after which the debate should be where do we spend those dollars.

Trying to get to people's basic beliefs.

PrairieSeasons Loc: Red River of the North

Neither choice addresses the underlying problem. The underlying problem is that we, as a nation, don't produce enough goods and services to pay for the lifestyle we choose to live.

The true value of a dollar could be stated as a math equation - all the good and services we produce divided by all the dollars in circulation. And as the goobermint borrows more and the Fed prints more dollars, the denominator of that equation gets bigger and the value of a single dollar gets smaller.

Having said all that, answer "A" (spending too much) is the better answer for us today, but answer "C" (put everyone back to work) is the only sustainable one.

And that is a solution that can best be achieved by changes in attitudes and motivations at all levels.

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

Thanks Prairie. I agree with your arguement as well. I say it all the time... WE DON"T MAKE ANYTHING IN THIS COUNTRY! Facebook, Google, WalMart, all really big companies supposedly worth Billions and none of them make anything. Used to be that Exxon, IBM, GM, Colgate, Coke, etc. drove this country.

But back to my original question...even here we can't just get A or B...no wonder the politicians never answer a question.

tschmath Loc: Los Angeles

leatherhelmets wrote:

I know the answer in the real world is somewhere in the middle, but it's not dead center. Therefore it's closer to A or B on the spectrum....what do you fundamentally believe?

We spend too much on the wrong things - two unfunded wars, an unfunded prescription drug program, and tax cuts primarily for the wealthy. Prior to the Bush years, under Clinton, all the thing Republicans want to cut were fully funded. Food stamps, Medicare, Medicaid, Pell Grants, PBS, all of it. We had a multi-billion dollar surplus. And Bush pissed it all away. Because, as Cheney once said, deficits don't matter. Yeah, right.

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

Thanks for chiming in. That's 3 votes for A if I'm correct. Keep them coming people....there's a method to my madness.

Robert Graybeal Loc: Myrtle Beach

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be 'neither'.
We waste too much money.
We have way to much govenment.
We have people on welfare getting $150,000 per yr.
We send billions to countries that are NOT our allies.
You're safe, gotta go, breakfast is ready.

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

OK that's enough for me to assume everyone agrees we pay enough in taxes. It's a spending debate. Does anyone argue with Romney's premise that we should judge all spending on whether or not it's important enough to borrow from China to fund? Don't tell me what you think is or isn't.....do you agree that this is a pretty good way to decide?

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

donrent wrote:

Neither !

But A is close... The question should be "Do we spend too much on the WRONG things as a nation...

yeah I agree spending on wars of choice that create outcomes the exact opposite of what we hope and think is not too good. As Bush said "fool me once shame on you fool me twice - well a vote for R&R is a vote to fool us all. Again and again and again.

Anybody remember the time before last when the banks had to be bailed out because of deregulation? Any body remember when back then we all said "never again." Fool us once - fool us twice...

BW326 Loc: Boynton Beach, Florida

leatherhelmets wrote:

....I want an answer....A or B.

I know the answer in the real world is somewhere in the middle ...

Unfortunately, this means that whatever conclusion you arrive at will not be validated by the responses. What will appear to be the ultimate mandate of the poll may have only been arrived at by the slimmest of margins if the answers were weighted to reflect how everyone really felt.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Robert Graybeal wrote:

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be 'neither'.
We waste too much money.
We have way to much govenment.
We have people on welfare getting $150,000 per yr.
We send billions to countries that are NOT our allies.
You're safe, gotta go, breakfast is ready.

really? Where can I sign up to get 150,000 in welfare? Show me.

leatherhelmets Loc: Center Conway, NH

Not looking for a mandate...looking for areas of agreement from which to build on. We can't come together in this country because we're all so determined to have it our way.
We'll never all agree on the details, but until we recognize that we agree on the big picture we'll never get started on the tough stuff.

1eyedjack

Yes--I agree with R&R...

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

leatherhelmets wrote:

Not looking for a mandate...looking for areas of agreement from which to build on. We can't come together in this country because we're all so determined to have it our way.
We'll never all agree on the details, but until we recognize that we agree on the big picture we'll never get started on the tough stuff.

that is correct. We have to grow consensus among ourselves if we expect more than childish tantrums and silly gamesmanship from those we elect to office - to lead us.