To Be Clear: Spending Cuts Will Hurt, REGARDLESS of Any Tax Hikes.

[WinkyDink]

There is no QUID PRO QUO.

Raising the Medicare Age to 67, e.g., while, say, raising the upper tax bracket to an awesome 97%, STILL RAISES THE MEDICARE AGE TO 67.

Re-imagining the CPI to halt future SS COLAs, while, say, raising the upper tax bracket to an awesome 97%, STILL HALTS FUTURE COLA's.

Reducing SS, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits, while, say, raising the upper tax bracket to an awesome 97%, STILL REDUCES SS, MEDICARE, AND MEDICAID BENEFITS.

It is the height of cynicism and the nadir of contempt for the elderly, the poor, the disabled, and the minor-age orphaned to pretend that there is some kind of "even Steven" bargaining here.

[elocs]

1. The rich can endure any tax increases far, far better

than the elderly can endure any of the cuts they are expected to give up either now or in the future.

[checks-n-balances]

2. Agreed. Any chance of a clean rasising of the ceiling

at the last minute, with nothing given or taken on either side?

I can't keep up.

[WinkyDink]

3. Posting again because it is, IMO, the CRUX of the issue!

[Arugula Latte]

4. Cut the fucking military and get the hell out of these ridiculous wars.

:grr: