Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-03 22:05:17 +0000
I read the Cato institute thing today as well. Explains why Libertarians and fiscal conservatives should, and generally do, vote Dem now.
Posted by rladew on 2005-05-04 03:50:04 +0000
The cato piece Is interesting... Makes me feel no warmth for Kerry or Dems though...
Bush using ideas of a democrat????
...naw, not our Hitler President
""Progressive indexing" is the brainchild of a progressive Democrat economist. That a Republican president would see the wisdom in this plan, which is against his natural inclinations, only demonstrates the silliness of the so-called progressives who oppose it for political reasons only."
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 15:38:36 +0000
Oooh, I'm feeling a little Kerry warmth coming on.... ;)
I'll just add that to the list of Republican Presidential bonuses:
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-04 15:48:51 +0000
Good point, rladew. To oppose progressive indexing is to be opposed to any "Social Security Solvency." Still, I'm not sure why you do not feel warmth for Dems and smaller government, as I thought that was your stance.
Two things:
1)Cato institute shows their agenda with: "These criticisms are thoughtless reactions from folks who have opposed President George W. Bush's efforts to reform Social Security from the beginning and would continue to oppose any reform plan short of a massive, jobs-killing, economy-grinding tax increase."
Completely false and has been discussed at length here at rs.n. This idea that raising taxes intrinsicly hurts the economy is getting stupid. "Jobs-killing," that one slays me.
2) Who was this "Progressive Democrat." James K. Polk?
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-04 15:51:19 +0000
Fact check has the Progressive Democrat as Robert C. Pozen.
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 15:52:45 +0000
Pozen. See the factcheck.org website.
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-04 15:54:00 +0000
um... thanks?
Posted by rladew on 2005-05-04 16:47:43 +0000
smaller govt and dems are yr words, not mine...
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Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-04 16:54:20 +0000
They are also the facts. See Cato report.
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 16:59:00 +0000
Started my reply before yours was posted.
Still, it's true: Pozen is a nutty left wing progressive.
Left over from that era of high minded social progressivism that I like to call "The Clinton Years".
Posted by rladew on 2005-05-04 17:10:16 +0000
tgl's Cato link refers to the GOP and current spending, but, unless Im missing something, I see no suggestion or correlation of Dems being the solution to the problem... please enlighten me...
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Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-04 17:41:58 +0000
First off, I have never called this a "problem," as I think the federal budget should be about 20% of the GDP.
"The federal budget as a share of the economy grew from 18.5 percent of GDP on Clinton’s last day in office to 20.3 percent by the end of Bush’s first term."
So in recent history, Dems. use smaller goverment than Reps. when heading the Executive branch. I don't know if that's a "solution," but I thought this was a policy you agreed with.
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 17:51:21 +0000
(with hand over breast): I do solemnly swear that I did not intend to imply that the Democrats have a solution to the Social Security problem, or current budget woes.
Now that it's been pointed out that the administration's solution, progressive indexing, is puportedly a Democrat's idea, then, maybe I did mean to imply that.
Granted, Dems don't have the political majority to push any legislation that might address these issues. Why doesn't the (Republican) White House draft legislation for the (Republican) House and (Republican) Senate to pass? They did it with personal bankruptcy, they did it with Medicare Price Fixing (oops, Prescription Drug Beneft). So glad the President had a news conference, now at least there is some semblance of a plan to debate. Why do Democrats catch flak for "not having a plan" when there wasn't any substantial plan from the White House? Unless spending 60 days travelling the country (paid for by taxpayers?) drumming up a crisis qualifies as a plan to fix Social Security.
Granted, I'm _still_ not convinced that Social Security is the most pressing issue on this administration's plate. How about National Security? I'm about to get nuked by a pompadoured Korean karaoke misfit!
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 17:58:41 +0000
Can't say that I'd go along all the way with Cato, either. A federal budget that is 20% of GDP seems like a good rule of thumb.
Historically, it's been higher, right? Especially in times of war?
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-04 19:23:04 +0000
More info on progressive indexing:
http://www.tnr.com/etc.mhtml?pid=2649
Posted by tgl on 2005-05-05 15:35:51 +0000
RE: SS, Cato, progressive indexing
yglesia s at tpm
I'm digging the cross-polination of Yglesias (of American Prospect fame) on TPM. Even though he is just a 24-year-old Harvard alum.
Posted by dawnbixtler on 2005-05-06 01:16:39 +0000
- eschews nutty progressive ideas dreamt up by Democrats
If George Will is against it, then, dang.