Balls and Walnuts
more than you ever wanted to know
I solved the Federal budget deficit!
The New York Times has a cool graphic wherein you make a variety of choices in order to solve the Federal budget deficit. I did it and had a surplus left over, all without hurting the poor and middle class and the elderly.
Here’s what I did:
I eliminated earmarks and farm subsidies.
I made all of the suggested military reductions.
Yes on medical malpractice reform (you thought I’d choose otherwise?)
I reduced Social Security benefits for those with high incomes.
I returned the estate tax to Clinton-era levels.
I returned the investment tax to Clinton-era levels.
I allowed the Bush tax cuts to expire for those earning over $250K.
Yes to “payroll tax: Subject some incomes above $106,000 to tax” (and I probably have enough of a surplus to ease that one somewhat).
Yes to “Millionaire’s tax on income above $1 million ” and “Eliminate loopholes, but keep taxes slightly higher”
Yes to the carbon tax and bank tax.
Et voila, the poor, elderly, and middle class are mostly unscathed, and I have a budget surplus, albeit with a few toxic pills (higher taxes for banks, polluters, and the rich, oh noooooz!)
Try it and see how you do.
D.
You know the corporations will never go for that. You’ll have to strip them of personhod first.
When the Revolution comes, first thing we do is line up all the Corporations . . .
I did pretty much the same thing, and ended with a small surplus. I find the federal budget process to be both fascinating and ridiculous.
Depressing. You forgot depressing. Like the way our congresscritters will continue to claim God will save us after the ice caps melt and my Bakersfield house becomes beachfront property.