Is America Facing An Economic Disaster? auditor in chief says yes!

[AGENDA21]

The richest, most powerful nation on earth faces a fiscal "tsunami" which threatens to overwhelm Government and citizens alike.

Who says so? America's auditor in chief, David Walker, whose job it is to oversee all Federal spending.

He's pleading with US politicians and taxpayers to face up to the harsh economic realities that come with an ageing population and spiralling budget deficits.

But is economic disaster really so close at hand?

Stephen Sackur talks to David Walker.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/hardtalk/4857646.stm

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Isn't he a Bush cousin?

Remember Poppy's name -- George Herbert Walker Bush.

Is there a connection there?

--p!

[Cooley Hurd]

2. He's the Comptroller of the US and works in the non-partisan GAO...

It's possible he's one of those Walkers (:puke:), but it's a pretty common name...

Here's a .pdf of a recent speech:

http://www.gao.gov/cghome/lsespeech0306.pdf

<snip>
Today in America, both policymakers and the public need to face the facts,
take a long-term perspective, and accept the need for dramatic reform and
some shared sacrifice. After all, when our days on this earth are nearing an
end, we should be able to look our children and our grandchildren in the eye
and say we did everything we could to pass on a community, a country, and
a world that’s better off and better positioned for their future.
Unfortunately, unless things change, the “baby boom” generation may be the
first generation in our country to not continue this long standing tradition.
</snip>

More at link (I highly recommend this speech to everyone reading this - all I can say is "holy crap!" :scared:)... :(

(on edit: K&R :kick:)

[Supersedeas]

7. more news that the Corporate Media will refuse to distribute

[TahitiNut]

5. I know of nobody in federal government whose integrity I trust more

... than David Walker. (He actually answers his own email.) He heads the Government Accountability Office, the least politicized arm of the federal government. He has been tenacious in demanding access to the spending records that the Bushoilini regime has withheld, records which are, by law, open to the GAO.

An auditor who rises to his position does so, not by playing politics, but by assiduous objectivity and professionalism and an excellent ability to Mace the dogs of partisanship that nip at his ankles. Does he know how the game is played? Ubetcha. Does he play it? Nope.

[Oversea Visitor]

3. No cigars

Bloody fool need to see pit without bottom now admit
Dumb fools
Nice to see reality but gee what a freaking mess

[Broadslidin]

4. A National "Goods & Services Tax" Will Fix Everything Up, Just Fine.....!

Something like a 37% Value Added Tax is all that is needed
to sustain the Imperial Petro-Empire and
its global oil-protection military occupation forces.

Any bets, the U.S. Federal Debt smashes into $10 Trillion
during the closing months of El Supremo's 2nd term.....?

:yoiks:

[TahitiNut]

6. The Debt is guaranteed to exceed $10 trillion by 2008. No question.

I'd love to see a 2% national sales tax on stock trades. :evilgrin: