Please tell me the presidential candidates proposals to address the 53 trillion dollar entitlement deficit?

Question

Yes thats now 53 Trillion! and No this isnt a homework assignment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Q14HOBThM

Answer 1

Same as usual politics.

Answer 2

Somehow we need a way to determine who was dumb enough to vote for Bush for a second term (I give a very slight pass to those who voted for him in 2000).  Then we need to raise taxes on just that set of people by about 10%.  Next time maybe they will do better research before voting to extend the reign of a miserable failure.

Answer 3

while I agree that entitlements are usurping the budget and all estimates show that the entire federal budget will be need to fund the current trend in entitlements that number of 53 trillion is misleading.  it doesnt take into account economic growth over that same period

http://www.optimist123.com/optimist/2005...

They dont talk about a plan becuase they know they really dont need one.

In 1995, Gingrich and friends tried to shut the government down to embarrass Clinton over the debt issue. (In the process, they shot themselves in the foot; it was a well-deserved wound). A few years later, the White House changed hands, and now it’s the other ideological camp peddling the fear that exceeding the debt ceiling will doom our grandkids to debtors prison.

Shouldn’t recent history be a big clue that maybe, just maybe, national debt fear-peddling is driven more by politics than by economics?

The reality is in my links.

Answer 4

I'm not sure anyone could ever tackle, let alone fix, such a large debt. We've been able to go from deficits in the billions to surpluses, but it could be decades, or even a century, before we eliminate debt like that, and that's if no other wars or massive disasters occur.

Answer 5

he pretty much explains it... clearly health care will break us if nothing is done... he clearly says that's the biggest problem by far...

sounds like you have two choices... socialized care which would drastically bring prices under control... or take away medicare... which the elderly vote... and they won't let that happen...

Answer 6

EXCELLENT point. And yet, people still continue to brag about the wonderful job  Bush is doing, how he hasn't raised taxes, blah, blah, blah. Some of us are aware of what the future holds, the rest are simply ignorant.

Answer 7

Not a problem.  Just tax the rich.  (Anybody that makes more than I do)

Answer 8

Didn't we have a surplus after Clinton left office?

Answer 9

I'm sure Obama will talk about it but Mccain won't since he was in the Senate the whole time since Reagan pushed the "fix" through. Our Social Security rates were raised to cover the estimated short-fall that would begin soon. It was a scam though and before it went through the heavy deficit spending started. Reagan not only spent that additional money but MORE!

But nobody can top Bush!!! Even while talking about how the shortfalls need to be fixed he upped the deficit spending and borrowing to unprecedented levels! Knowing full well the "boomers" have started retiring.

McCain has even less excuse since he has been collecting his Social Security Checks for 10 years now so has a personal reminder of this.

Neither will address it adequately but Obama will bring it up. It is a Republican failure and there is no reason to soft pedal it. (He knows we are going to get rid of many of the Blue Dogs as soon as the next election since they voted with the GOP on these spending bills)

Besides, McCain hate to discuss his retirement status.  

edit: Baloney to those that said that Bush had to sign that bill. It was specifically designed to enrich the Big Pharma companies that donated heavily to his campaign and to Bill Frist whose involvement was well documented.

If it was a Democratic bill it would have been cheaper since it would have allowed the government to lower prices through quantity purchases and negotiation. (just like medicare)

Answer 10

Neither are addressing it, Congress won't touch it.  We have too many people that want to increase it.  This problem isn't going away, so it is going to be left up to our children to address it.

Edit:  Bush had to sign the bill it came in "veto" proof.  It was a stupid thing, but no politician wanted to say no to it.  ( Not allow Prescription drugs for elderly, what do I want to commit political suicide)

Answer 11

So far they seem to want to add to it with all the promises we are hearing.

Answer 12

FILE BANKRUPTCY LIKE WE DID IN 1933

Answer 13

are you referring to the entitlements to halliburton, GE, and other war profiteers?  thats the real money !!!!