The interesting thing is G Dubya has increased taxes. He lowered the tax rate which in turn raised tax revenue. We have just finished a quarter where tax income, for US government, was an all time record. The spending problem is not only pork barrel, but much of it is necessary to rebuild military after Bush 1 and Clinton decimated the hard structure. Lets be fair here Barney - How many spending bills has Dubya veto'd? NONE, NADA, ZIP. Military spending is up but discretionary spending i.e., PORK, is out of control
The cure for the debt problem is a balanced budget, possibly John McCain will be the one hardline enough to bring a balanced budget amendment.
Presidents don't start bills Barney - that is the job of Congress - see School House Rocks for me details
As it stands now for the next two years the top level government will be gridlocked.
What's the matter with that? It was the best of times it was the worst of times! Remember 1995 when the government shut down due to gridlock? Pass the remote and bring it on. The more gridlock the better
The takeover by dems was on nothing more than disdain for the failure in Iraq not only the problems with backing forces from Iran and Syria but no WMD. The dems ran on no platform but using G Dubya in the adds.
And you're surprised? Give me a platform that they have used in the past, other than "I'm not the other guy"
Min wage increase and college tuition is just golden carrot bs to bring very low income voters. Taxes will not increase over the next two years. Any tax increase will be vetoed. Read his daddys lips, NO NEW TAXES. Its true this time. At the rate of tax income we are seeing now it will be interesting to see how much the debt gets cut into. At this time wages have increased at a rat near 2% above inflation which is very good. With the unemployment rate near full employment the job market could experience a wage rally.
Here's where you blew it! You made the same assumptions that were true 20 or even 10 years ago - no longer. Due to advances in IT and manufacturing there will be very little wage increases. WHY? don't like it here I'll take you job to India or the Phillipians. Video conferencing makes more things possible.
Manufacturing jobs? GONE. Robotics helping to cure some of the "quality" issues. Would you encourage you kids to work for any of the Big Three auto makers? I think not because they will wind up being the little 3 down the road.
We are turning into a service oriented society with 3 (three) soon to become two (2) tiers of service. There's Nieman Marcus, Macy's/Target and Wal-Mart. The inflation wage you speak of will be offset by the mass layoffs of white collar middle management. Wal-Mart is always looking for retired greeters at their stores!
As far as full employement is concerned - not for long. Once the layoffs begin it will have a cascading effect on the economy. In fact my guess is a rate cut in the first quarter of next year, second quarter at the latest to prevent a full fledged hit.
Which in turn will force the fed to raise rates. and so on...