Such a JOKE!

"(Reuters) - U.S. budget talks collapsed on Thursday after Republican negotiators walked out, throwing doubt on Washington's ability to reach a deal that would allow the government to keep borrowing and avoid a debt default.

Representative Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, said participants had identified trillions of dollars in potential spending cuts but were deadlocked over tax increases sought by Democrats. Republican Senator Jon Kyl also pulled out, according to an aide.

"Regardless of the progress that has been made, the tax issue must be resolved before discussions can continue," Cantor said in a statement.
"House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Washington, said Democrats must take tax hikes off the table.

"These conversations could continue if they take the tax hikes out of the conversation," Boehner said.

Negotiators had hoped to reach a budget deal by next week that would give lawmakers political cover to raise the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling before the Treasury Department runs out of money to pay the country's bills."
 
This is such a joke!!! Republicans are willing to negotiate as long as they get EVERYTHING they want, and their precious rich cronies are not affected. As long as all that is cut are Democrat programs, they are all about cutting the deficit. But as soon as their precious tax breaks are mentioned (tax breaks that have NOT created jobs or made for a better America, they have merely produced richer CEO's and the dissolving of the middle class), they just storm out- they can't even sit and have a civil discussion.
 
Apparently Reps. have forgotten what a democracy is all about- working together and compromising to determine what is best for the country. Apparently they have no human decency left in them, and all they can do is whine and pout until they get their way (oh, but of course they will blame the Dems for doing nothing about the deficit, even though THEY are the ones who are throwing tantrums louder and more annoying than my 2-year-old. All to protect their spoiled, rich, rotten, billionare financiers. And we wonder why nothing productive can get done in Washington!)

2011 Economic Collapse?

HERE is one of hundreds of articles talking about how our economy might collapse- sooner, rather than later.

I am sure that by now all of us agree we are in a crisis situation in regards to the economy and the national deficit.

I, however, have lost faith in both political parties to do anything about it.

Both parties caused this. One party did not do more damage than the other- and I will not argue about that. BOTH sides are responsible.

The worst part, though, is that NEITHER side is doing anything about it.

They both promise to.

They both say they will.

But nothing gets done.

Even the beloved (HA!) Tea-Partiers have vowed to reduce the budget by only 30 billion. That's 1.67% of the deficit. That's the same amount the Fed prints every MONTH. Meaning: Even the tea partiers are completely unwilling to do anything that will actually reduce the deficit.

I have completely lost faith in both parties to make the hard choices and actually do something meaningful to reduce the deficit. Why? Because it is political suicide to be the one to push the austerity measures that must be done to get our budget anywhere within reason. Remember what happened in Greece? Spain? London? It's not pretty for the ones who actually do the hard things.

So neither party is doing it.

Honestly, I don't understand all the numbers and how it all works and I don't get everything that is happening. But, I know it's not good- and it's not going to get any better anytime soon, regardless of who is in power.

What do I think will happen?

I think China will call our debt and leave us begging for mercy as the dollar becomes worthless. I think there will be massive riots in America as food becomes the most precious commodity. I think we will have to create a new currency and start over- which will most certainly be painful for all of us.

Yes, I think it's that bad.

How bad do you think it is?

To Cross, Or Not To Cross

I was going to write about the Palin/Letterman "controversy" but then I decided that Palin was making me angry with her feigned outcry- after Letterman has already apologized- and it is all just a publicity stunt for her and is rediculous, so I will let somebody else tackle that one!

Let me start out by saying that I am a unionist through and through- the teachers union saved my job my first year of teaching when a student plagiarized a paper, his parents threatened to sue me, and the principal asked for my resignation because I refused to back down. Because of this incident, I have been faithful to the union ever since- attending rallies, conferences, negotiations, mediations, etc. I love unions- I LOVE what they have done for our country. I love 40-hour workweeks and weekends and paid vacations- all of which came about thanks to unions. Which is why it is so strange that I am so conflicted at this time.

I do not know if it is nationwide- and I apologize if it is not and you don't know what I am talking about- but our grocery union (Kroger foods) is considering going on strike because they are being asked to take cuts in benefits and pay. I am not sure of all the details. I am conflicted because never in a million years would I think to cross a picket line- but in this instance, I am at odds in my feelings towards this strike. I have two opposing thoughts:

1. We are in a recession. Many people are being asked to make cuts in their benefits and pay, and most people are grateful just to have a job. It is hard for me to sympathize with them.

HOWEVER....

2. Grocery stores are typically recession-proof. People still have to eat, and often they are eating out less and therefore buying more from stores, not less. Part of me wonders if the CEO and managers are using the recession as an excuse to make cuts, even though they don't need to- a way to force the "all powerful evil union" to give up some of their power, even though they might be making great profits (I do not know if they are or not, but I could see them using the economy as an excuse).

Of course, a more practical problem is this: I still need to buy groceries! Where will I buy them if not from a grocery store? I am ADAMENTLY opposed to shopping at Wal-Mart because of their huge anti-union stance, and I will absolutely NOT shop there, and that leaves me with very few options.

So here's the question: Cross the picket lines, or support the union?

Get What You Deserve

I was watching TV the other day and I saw a Rent-a-Center commercial that said, "Come in and get the furnishings you deserve!" I was a little shocked by this because I had thought (mistakently, obviously) that we had learned our lesson with this whole economic meltdown: If you can't afford it, you don't "deserve" it. Isn't that what got us into this mess in the first place?

The more I thought about this, the more I am realizing that this idea of spending more then we earn, that we are entitled to flat screen TV's and large cars, is somehow ingrained in our culture. Perhaps I am the last person in America to realize this shocking cultural phenomenon, but I- like I know all of you- was raised to believe that if you can't pay for it, you can't get it (hence, we went without a lot).

Is it just me, or does it seem strange that advertisers are still using the sneaky lines today that they used 5 years ago- that even in the midst of an economic crisis, we are entitled to nice furniture? I do not believe this is a political issue, but rather a societal issue- and one that needs to be changed! We have talked about the economy on a political level, but I guess in this post I am thinking more in terms of or society as a whole, and I have two questions:

1. How did we get to thinking we deserve things we can't afford?
2. How do we teach our children that spending more then you earn is an incorrect principle when so many around them are doing just that?

I am tempted to write Rent-a-Center a letter.