[immelawealecy]

President Obama on Tuesday said he cannot guarantee that retirees will receive their Social Security checks August 3 if Democrats and Republicans in Washington do not reach an agreement on reducing the deficit in the coming weeks. Typical scare tactics. But since both parties do it, I guess I shouldn't complain too much, but it is annoying.

[QvhhbjLy]

Yes, one party's only interest is staying in power, and the other's is returning to power. The common person doesn't fit into either's plan except as a pawn to vote for them.

[GrileVege]

That's not the same as money.

Sending out social security checks will not increase the national debt (which is what the debt ceiling limits) but will increase the debt owed to the public.

[Z3s9vQZj]

Sending out social security checks will not increase the national debt (which is what the debt ceiling limits) but will increase the debt owed to the public.

huh?

[Starichok]

I thought you were disputing the claim that the debt ceiling wouldn't stop social security checks? Never mind.

I'm not disputing that but can you explain what you said.

[Greactbet]

Social Security cannot increase the debt because when push comes to shove it must support itself by cashing in the mature debt it holds. This does cost the government money, but it actually reduces the debt.

[Anckzxik]

Social Security cannot increase the debt because when push comes to shove it must support itself by cashing in the mature debt it holds. This does cost the government money, but it actually reduces the debt.

Do the iou's count as the national debt? No one ever bought that debt.

[kavaTeexy]

I'm sure the iou's don't count. So reducing them will not reduce the national debt.

[Relsenlilky]

Yes, the IOU's in the Social Security trust fund are part of the national debt. When social security checks are sent, the size of the trust fund decreases and the debt held by the public (debts that people actually bought) increases but there is no change in the national debt.

I can't post links, but I read that the ious don't count.

[blankostaroe]

One of the many, many, many problems with our country is that one political party has little interest in governing, and the other party has none.

Which party is which is as changable as the weather.

Iraq war doesn't happen with a democrat in the White House.

[dHXaE2h9]

They simply choose another unnecessary country to invade given the Libya example.

Obviously our never ending war in Libya will cost trillions over 8 years. What, with our ground presence and the insurgency we're fighting.

[Nabeqiv]

Don't expect DD to make sense.

[italertb]

Iraq war doesn't happen with a democrat in the White House.

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Clinton bombed the **** out of Iraq during his presidency and 9/11 made people on both sides of the aisle crazy.

[DumnEuronoumn]

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Clinton bombed the **** out of Iraq during his presidency and 9/11 made people on both sides of the aisle crazy.

Imagine Al ****ing Gore for a minute. This revisionist idea that it was inevitable has got to be stopped.

[advabHixavoip]

I'm sure the iou's don't count. So reducing them will not reduce the national debt.

There are no IOUs and instead they are Treasury Bonds which, yes, are the very definition of the National Debt and so is counted.

[MarythePuppy6]

Wouldn't be so sure about that. Clinton bombed the **** out of Iraq during his presidency and 9/11 made people on both sides of the aisle crazy.

But since there was no real connection between Iraq and 9/11, Gore (or McCain or any other potential president of either party) wouldn't have gone into Iraq. Afghanistan yes, but not Iraq. That was entirely the doing of Bush's neo-con advisors.

[JakilSong]

But since there was no real connection between Iraq and 9/11, Gore (or McCain or any other potential president of either party) wouldn't have gone into Iraq. Afghanistan yes, but not Iraq. That was entirely the doing of Bush's neo-con advisors.

McCain absolutely would have gone into Iraq. McCain thinks we belong in Libya. And Al Gore's vice president was Joe Lieberman. I think Gore would have charted a fairly similar foreign policy course, except he would also have been an environmentalist loon.

[prowsnobswend]

I'd put better odds on us finding ManBearPig than WMDs.

They actually did find WMDs, just not many and not nukular.

Why would getting elected turn him into a loon?

This. Not getting elected is what turned Gore into a loon.

[ansarigf]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

I think you don't know what makes something an asset.

[cemDrymnVem]

How is a bond not an "IOU"?