So, this thread is not about discussing the bill, rather doing all one can to assure its passage. OK — jgill
How about seeing the forest from the trees here?For anyone still keeping up with this bill (arguably the most important news story there is), what do we think will happen here? A watered down version or nothing whatsoever? The clock is ticking. — Xtrix
(US Today)Nationwide, it takes an annual income of $538,926 to be among the top 1%. Among the approximately 1.4 million taxpayers who meet this threshold, the average annual income is about $1.7 million
This all is simply a way to sustain the economy by more debt financing. — ssu
Plus, taxes don't pay but a small fraction of our debt/deficit. We are the world bank (that is so long as the heavy-hitters trade on the petrodollar, and not barter or use some other form of currency; if they do that, we just sanction them or invade them). So, we just print money. That's what we've been doing all along. — James Riley
Likely Robert Reich is correct. But then, the show is continuing the same way under Biden too. Nothing will stop it now, especially after large direct money transfers to US citizens is becoming the new norm.I don't know if it's true, but I'm entitled to my confirmation bias, aren't I? — James Riley
But it doesn't matter!I don’t think you’re referring to the reconciliation bill. What I’m talking about includes measures for child care, climate change, and many other provisions that would be good for this country. — Xtrix
Likely Robert Reich is correct. But then, the show is continuing the same way under Biden too. — ssu
Nothing will stop it now, especially after large direct money transfers to US citizens is becoming the new norm. — ssu
But it doesn't matter! — ssu
And it continues the same way when Republicans are in power, only on steroids' with a large dose of denial. — James Riley
When a global pandemic hit and people were forced to close shop for a while, it's understandable. The real issue comes when the pandemic is over (or is the new normal).It will be fun to try trickle up instead of trickle down, though, for a change. — James Riley
Again this is far more a policy and legal matter than something that could be solved by more spending. Think of universal health care that costs less than in present US. That would mean that also doctors would get a lot less. US Doctors are now paid the most in the World. The unfortunate issue is that there are too many who benefit from the current system and they have too much lobbying power. Overhaul of the system is a huge task.It does matter. Free community college, free child care, having Medicare cover eye classes and hearing aids, extending the child tax credit, creating thousands of charging stations, subsidizing clean energy, funding the IRS, etc etc— these are all very beneficial for the majority of Americans and the planet. — Xtrix
That would be the case. Yet I think you would simply need totally different political parties than the two you have now. I simply don't see it happening. And think Naomi Klein in The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism was partly right of how things are done. Of course it's not pre-planned as Klein naturally makes it to be (with the worst intentions, as usual). Only when the option to do as before simply isn't there, when the World hits a severe crisis, then drastic reforms will be made. But not before.If we closed loopholes, prevented stock buybacks, nationalized the banks that needed bailouts, taxed the wealthy at higher rates, ended the stepped up basis, implemented a wealth tax, increased capital gains taxes, ended tax havens, allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices, cut military expenditures, etc— there would be no deficit. — Xtrix
When a global pandemic hit and people were forced to close shop for a while, it's understandable. The real issue comes when the pandemic is over (or is the new normal). — ssu
US Doctors are now paid the most in the World. — ssu
Again this is far more a policy and legal matter than something that could be solved by more spending. — ssu
"Here's the reigns, bitches! Have fun!" — James Riley
Having looked at the history of the so-called "infrastructure bill" or the earlier stimulus packages, I would look at where the money really goes in the end.As you know, they have to make it appear related to the budget to pass reconciliation, but these are real policies being enacted. — Xtrix
Damn. Imagine getting to look at these women all the time as opposed to Mitch McConnell and Joe Biden. That alone makes it preferable. — Xtrix
How about trying to change these statistics in the next elections? — ssu
So I guess we can agree that one's genitals aren't the most important reason to pick a politician. Far more is what the politician believes in and what he or she does. — ssu
On the other hand, we have young dummies too, like Lauren Boebert and Margorie Taylor Green. — James Riley
The former is undeniably beautiful — Xtrix
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.