Dizzying Dive to Red Ink Poses Stark Choices for Washington

[True_Blue]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 — When President Bush informed the nation last Sunday night that remaining in Iraq next year will cost another $87 billion, many of those who will actually pay that bill were unable to watch. They had already been put to bed by their parents.

Administration officials acknowledged the next day that every dollar of that cost will be borrowed, a loan that economists say will be repaid by the next generation of taxpayers and the generation after that. The $166 billion cost of the work so far in Iraq and Afghanistan, which has stunned many in Washington, will be added to what was already the largest budget deficit the nation has ever known.

With a force that has surprised even critics of the administration, the Iraqi occupation has pushed to the forefront a budget deficit that had previously existed mostly as an abstract red stain on Democratic bar charts. With no extra money available for the foreseeable future, real choices are being illuminated on Capitol Hill — choices between electronic bombs and electrical grids, between low taxes now and lower retirement payments later.

Should Washington reconstruct Iraq's schools and hospitals, lawmakers are asking, or America's? Should it pay for more than 100,000 American troops to stay in Iraq, or for 40 million seniors to be offered prescription drugs through Medicare? And if it tries to do it all, should it keep cutting taxes?

more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/14/politics/14DEFI.html?hp

[Ediacara]

1. That opening paragraph is fantastic

They had already been put to bed by their parents.

How fucking true!

[E_Zapata]

2. Wow, the pro-lifers were right.

We need every possible human to be born and working hard for a long, long time.

For that reason only, we need to outlaw abortion, but also INSIST that all men get Viagra so that the breeders for tomorrow can get to business!

/sarcasm -- total sarcasm.

[JPace]

5. "We need every possible human to be born"

Problem is the way jobs are leaving
the country there may not be meaningful
work with a living wage available in
in the future.

[xJlM]

10. Pretty amusing for sarcasm

I'm one of those people who sarcasm and satire sometimes tend to escape, but I think even I could have recognised that without your little disclaimer. To add to that, all of our Democratic candidates (except for the ones I hear everybody saying are "unelectable") are in favor of continuing throwing our money down this black hole. Tell me the average American isn't stupid...

[Bush_has_Parvo]

3. Gee, I wonder which the American people will chose:

Making the tax cut permanent or having Social Security and Medicare? Hmmm, I think the Repukes may be a bit out of step with average Americans.

[The Zanti Regent]

4. GOP Master Plan--Bankrupt the Government, kill Social Security

This IS the GOP Master Plan

Run up the Red ink and let it run wild, then when the IMF comes knocking at the door, adopt their austerity plan to eliminate Social Security and Medicare.

After all, isn't that what the CHURCHES are for??????

[w4rma]

8. It's bigger than that -- Bankrupt the Government, transfer power to top 1%

Transfer America's resources to the top 1%. Transfer political power to the top 1%. Recreate a new feudal society and an aristocrasy. And if they can't get away with it, then the transfer of resources to the top 1% will give them enough power to allow their children to try again later.

Getting rid of social security and medicare decreases the resources that have to go to the other 99%.

[ablbodyed]

12. That is the plan

The r's hate govt that actually does anything positive. Unfortunately their bribes seem to work. And, yes, the Amer folks are going to take this lying down. The few who do pose significant opposition will be made examples of vicious retribution. The organization is in place. Militias, now secret, will become visibly active and the vigilante forces will have full govt support. I live in upstate NewYork and the mean-spiritedness is PROFOUND. Mostly from petty Whimmies (WhiteHeteroMales) who benefit almost nothing from this administration, except to have their little 'minds' exult at the crude audacuty of their selfish nastyness. We are IN DEEP TROUBLE. As a gay man with a mind, I'll be one of the first to go, but other groups will follow, until only compliant church-goers are left. Then the final push to armaggedon, the ACTUAL goal of many of these back-woods bozos, will go into full swing. If you're saved, that death is a release and reward. The rest of us don't matter.

[JPace]

6. The 87 billion for Iraq is.....

20% of discretionary income in the budget.
I wonder what AWOL wants people to give
up so that he can rebuild Iraq?

[saigon68]

7. Education

Why do we need to read or write? Just watch television and do what we are told.

[PartyPooper]

9. Hell, a lot of us could see this train wreck coming last year.

invasion = death and destruction and boatloads of $
occupation = death and destruction and even more $

Funny thing is...a lot of Repukes are still saying, "well, you just can't put a price on freedom, homeland security, and fighting terrorism."

I reckon they will pay any price...even by mortgaging our childrens' and grandchildrens' futures for this "war on terra".

:-(

[VolcanoJen]

11. Kick

:dem: