Yeah they don't like the post office, but they can't get rid of it.
Uh, they seem to be doing a pretty damn good job of getting rid of it, actually. The entire reason USPS runs at a loss and is thus preparing to gut itself presently is because back in those halcyon days of Bush II Congress mandated that the Post Office must prefund 100% of their future retirees' benefits. Which is something no other organization, public or private, does on account of it being pointless and insane.
Spoiler Alert:
The Republican Party doesn't actually give a shit
fixed?
If only
A trap is for fish: when you've got the fish, you can forget the trap. A snare is for rabbits: when you've got the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words.
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Big Red Tiebeautiful clydesdale style feettoo hot to trotRegistered Userregular
Yeah they don't like the post office, but they can't get rid of it.
Uh, they seem to be doing a pretty damn good job of getting rid of it, actually. The entire reason USPS runs at a loss and is thus preparing to gut itself presently is because back in those halcyon days of Bush II Congress mandated that the Post Office must prefund 100% of their future retirees' benefits. Which is something no other organization, public or private, does on account of it being pointless and insane.
which they did entirely because the post office is actually the very best example of the government providing an incredibly valuable service while co-existing with private businesses that do essentially the same thing
We haven't had 17 government shutdowns. We've had 2. There are other cases where funding bills have not been passed in time, but before the 80s that just meant the government kept on doing its thing while it waited for the paperwork to get updated, it didn't actually cut off funding or close down offices or leave people out in the cold, except occasionally for one or two specific agencies that were targetted. The government's been shut down twice, and both times are because of Republicans in Congress.
A trap is for fish: when you've got the fish, you can forget the trap. A snare is for rabbits: when you've got the rabbit, you can forget the snare. Words are for meaning: when you've got the meaning, you can forget the words.
We haven't had 17 government shutdowns. We've had 2. There are other cases where funding bills have not been passed in time, but before the 80s that just meant the government kept on doing its thing while it waited for the paperwork to get updated, it didn't actually cut off funding or close down offices or leave people out in the cold, except occasionally for one or two specific agencies that were targetted. The government's been shut down twice, and both times are because of Republicans in Congress.
Uh, three times sir.
One during the Clinton Presidency, one now, and one during the Bartlet Presidency.
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WeaverWho are you?What do you want?Registered Userregular
Fuuuuuuck. It's like watching America crumble in real time.
It's like watching the Republicans and America play the choking game.
PwnanObrien on
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valhalla13013 Dark Shield Perceives the GodsRegistered Userregular
I feel asleep at 10:00 pm. Woke up at 1:30 am and have been up ever since. I get up to go to work at 7:30. And the R key on my keyboard just popped off and won't go back on. WTF?
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HunterChemist with a heart of AuRegistered Userregular
I was awake last night just being mad at the whole situation. And worried too, since my wife is currently furloughed.
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KakodaimonosCode fondlerHelping the 1% get richerRegistered Userregular
The inversion in the treasury yield curve is ridiculous. I'm hearing that clearing firms aren't accepting treasury bills as collateral without a significant premium.
They're all idiots.
I know a bunch of traders and hedge fund guys who've decided they're never giving money to any Republicans ever again.
The inversion in the treasury yield curve is ridiculous. I'm hearing that clearing firms aren't accepting treasury bills as collateral without a significant premium.
They're all idiots.
I know a bunch of traders and hedge fund guys who've decided they're never giving money to any Republicans ever again.
Truly, this shit is bananas.
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EncA Fool with CompassionPronouns: He, Him, HisRegistered Userregular
The inversion in the treasury yield curve is ridiculous. I'm hearing that clearing firms aren't accepting treasury bills as collateral without a significant premium.
They're all idiots.
I know a bunch of traders and hedge fund guys who've decided they're never giving money to any Republicans ever again.
Yep, maybe the Koch brothers can withstand this sort of shenanigans but the majority of fiscal conservatives (read: moneyed individuals who don't want to be taxed so much) are not happy at all with this nonsense. My stepfather and his golf group are about as card carrying Republicans as you can get and usually toe the party line as much as possible. All of them are livid with the House right now.
They don't want the ACA, of course. Just none of them think it's at all worth the economic damage even in the worst case scenario.
I didn't realize it was possible to hate Michelle Bachmann more than I already did before this thing started. Every time I see her on television I just want to throw something.
The clip of her kissing a veteran like he's a puppy at the WWII memorial just drove me nuts.
The short term treasury bill market has nothing to do with America's borrowing power or the interest it pays on that borrowing
that graph is a reflection of the cost of dumping treasury bills to other people before they reach maturity on October 31st
default remains unlikely, the House has already passed a bill to guarantee and pay all treasury bills that would come due during a prolonged debt ceiling fight
tbh buying those october bonds would be a pretty sweet bet
The US is absolutely paying a higher rate on treasury bills this week than it did last week.
yeah but 4-week bonds are not how the united states finances its perennial bazillion dollar budget deficit
I would like to see how many of these things they actually sell compared to 1+ year bonds
Jasconius on
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KwoaruConfident SmirkFlawless Golden PecsRegistered Userregular
so yesterday I heard that default wouldn't matter because the US could still totally pay its bills because paying the bills just means paying the interest on the debt and the US absolutely takes in more than enough money each month to pay the interest on the debt so it wouldn't even be default because the bills would still be getting paid
because the guy on the radio has a better understanding of economics and the impact of failing to raise the debt limit than the incredible vast majority of economists across the entire world who say failing to raise the debt limit would basically be the worst possible outcome
Sent an email to Ted Poe. He is not technically my Rep, but he's only a few blocks away. I'm currently in Sheila Jackson Lee's district.
I've seen several Republicans claim to get a lot of emails and letters saying "keep up the good fight". Well, I'm sending one that says the opposite. Shutting down the government to try and force a one year delay in a law that was passed years ago, and passed review by the US Supreme Court, is incredibly foolish. This shutdown does actual harm to actual people. My friend's dad is furloughed without pay while you guys bicker and grandstand. NASA missions and Antarctic research are in jeopardy. The CDC and FDA are partially closed while a possible salmonella outbreak is occurring. WIC vouchers are going unpaid, which means children are going hungry. NIH research is on pause, some long-term experiments with live specimens are in danger of being cancelled. This website has more information if you care to learn the effects of your temper tantrum: http://labs.enigma.io/shutdown2013/
Send an email to thanksobama@gog.com with your picture holding the official furlough letter you received, before Friday 11 October 2013 at 12:00 EDT and we'll give you The Guild: Gold Edition, Capitalism, Capitalism 2, Tropico: Gold Edition, Alpha Centauri + Alien Crossfire, Theme Hospital, and Redneck Rampage free.
Send an email to thanksobama@gog.com with your picture holding the official furlough letter you received, before Friday 11 October 2013 at 12:00 EDT and we'll give you The Guild: Gold Edition, Capitalism, Capitalism 2, Tropico: Gold Edition, Alpha Centauri + Alien Crossfire, Theme Hospital, and Redneck Rampage free.
Send an email to thanksobama@gog.com with your picture holding the official furlough letter you received, before Friday 11 October 2013 at 12:00 EDT and we'll give you The Guild: Gold Edition, Capitalism, Capitalism 2, Tropico: Gold Edition, Alpha Centauri + Alien Crossfire, Theme Hospital, and Redneck Rampage free.
Everyone go read the promo blurb on the website, it's pretty great.
Sent an email to Ted Poe. He is not technically my Rep, but he's only a few blocks away. I'm currently in Sheila Jackson Lee's district.
I've seen several Republicans claim to get a lot of emails and letters saying "keep up the good fight". Well, I'm sending one that says the opposite. Shutting down the government to try and force a one year delay in a law that was passed years ago, and passed review by the US Supreme Court, is incredibly foolish. This shutdown does actual harm to actual people. My friend's dad is furloughed without pay while you guys bicker and grandstand. NASA missions and Antarctic research are in jeopardy. The CDC and FDA are partially closed while a possible salmonella outbreak is occurring. WIC vouchers are going unpaid, which means children are going hungry. NIH research is on pause, some long-term experiments with live specimens are in danger of being cancelled. This website has more information if you care to learn the effects of your temper tantrum: http://labs.enigma.io/shutdown2013/
Cut it out.
Thanks for the website Weaver
Edited to show all the representative will actually read of your email.
Sent an email to Ted Poe. He is not technically my Rep, but he's only a few blocks away. I'm currently in Sheila Jackson Lee's district.
I've seen several Republicans claim to get a lot of emails and letters saying "keep up the good fight". Well, I'm sending one that says the opposite. Shutting down the government to try and force a one year delay in a law that was passed years ago, and passed review by the US Supreme Court, is incredibly foolish. This shutdown does actual harm to actual people. My friend's dad is furloughed without pay while you guys bicker and grandstand. NASA missions and Antarctic research are in jeopardy. The CDC and FDA are partially closed while a possible salmonella outbreak is occurring. WIC vouchers are going unpaid, which means children are going hungry. NIH research is on pause, some long-term experiments with live specimens are in danger of being cancelled. This website has more information if you care to learn the effects of your temper tantrum: http://labs.enigma.io/shutdown2013/
Cut it out.
Thanks for the website Weaver
Edited to show all the representative will actually read of your email.
didn't realize the deficit had been reduced that much
Of course, the House Majority Leader refuses to acknowledge that the debt has dramatically lowered and still uses it as an example of one of Obama's failures to compromise.
the deficit has dramatically lowered from "ridiculously high" to just "very high" through means that democrats unanimously oppose
there are still long term budget issues that the the Democrats seek to do nothing about. That graph boldly ends at 2018. Check out how it looks when it goes to 2030 under the scenario that Medicare is not reformed
Send an email to thanksobama@gog.com with your picture holding the official furlough letter you received, before Friday 11 October 2013 at 12:00 EDT and we'll give you The Guild: Gold Edition, Capitalism, Capitalism 2, Tropico: Gold Edition, Alpha Centauri + Alien Crossfire, Theme Hospital, and Redneck Rampage free.
Everyone go read the promo blurb on the website, it's pretty great.
That was pretty funny.
Then I read the forum post underneath it where a dude said CDprojektRED should "stay out of our politics" because they are in poland.
Then I laughed again until I realized that dude was serious.
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KakodaimonosCode fondlerHelping the 1% get richerRegistered Userregular
The US is absolutely paying a higher rate on treasury bills this week than it did last week.
yeah but 4-week bonds are not how the united states finances its perennial bazillion dollar budget deficit
I would like to see how many of these things they actually sell compared to 1+ year bonds
Bills are usually around 1.5 billion, notes are around 7.5 and bonds are 1.3. You can get the data from the debt outstanding page on the Treasury site. SIFMA also has a breakdown somewhere.
If the Treasury is issuing bills then it's using that to finance the deficit. Saying that it doesn't is just wrong.
Kakodaimonos on
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EncA Fool with CompassionPronouns: He, Him, HisRegistered Userregular
We've operated with a deficit for all but a handful of years, and the majority of the policies that lower that are the very ones that Republicans are currently or previously trying to get overturned (such as the top percentage tax rates). Worries about the deficit are more relevant during the periods of mass decline where nothing is getting corrected or things are actively getting borked (historically, during Republican presidencies primarily due to unfinanced wars and top quintile tax cuts).
It's a hollow argument. If the debt was a serious concern taxes would be raised in relation to real world need on almost all areas of taxation (most taxes haven't grown relative to their need, for example see the Gas Tax which has remained the same 18c since 1995), boost infrastructure spending, and pass actual jobs bills that encourage the tax base to get back to work and generate revenue. All three of these actions have shown to considerably reduce deficit spending in both short and long term.
Debt is one thing, but 40% of the US budget being financed during what is essentially as close to peace time as we'll ever get again is ridiculous. Even if the money is cheap.
Debt is one thing, but 40% of the US budget being financed during what is essentially as close to peace time as we'll ever get again is ridiculous. Even if the money is cheap.
I wanna say you're missing a 'by military spending' in there, but I'm not sure.
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EncA Fool with CompassionPronouns: He, Him, HisRegistered Userregular
Debt is one thing, but 40% of the US budget being financed during what is essentially as close to peace time as we'll ever get again is ridiculous. Even if the money is cheap.
Exactly. Taxes are way too low. Across the board, but mostly on the top two quintiles. our taxation is essentially frozen at the same rates or lower as 1979, despite modern needs for infrastructure, social support, and military spending balooning with actual costs during the last 30 years. If you look at any other first world country in the entire world you will not find lower taxation across the board than in the US, and while that delicate balance can be a good thing when properly managed it isn't a blank check for cutting all taxes and demanding all the same costs.
And before you get into the "but but, cut the costs" nonsense, remember that if the argument that cutting welfare and support spending was the actual solution here then something like the ACA should be widely supported by the right as it allows a huge opportunity to lobby for pushing things like medicare and medicaid into those exchanges and off the federal dole, which was the reason most of these policies were originally proposed by the late 1990s Republicans.
Posts
bless you for being my herald
If only
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/08/whats-happening-in-the-treasury-bill-market-today-should-terrify-you/
which they did entirely because the post office is actually the very best example of the government providing an incredibly valuable service while co-existing with private businesses that do essentially the same thing
We haven't had 17 government shutdowns. We've had 2. There are other cases where funding bills have not been passed in time, but before the 80s that just meant the government kept on doing its thing while it waited for the paperwork to get updated, it didn't actually cut off funding or close down offices or leave people out in the cold, except occasionally for one or two specific agencies that were targetted. The government's been shut down twice, and both times are because of Republicans in Congress.
Uh, three times sir.
One during the Clinton Presidency, one now, and one during the Bartlet Presidency.
Fuuuuuuck. It's like watching America crumble in real time.
It's like watching the Republicans and America play the choking game.
How about we have John Boehner and Michelle Bachmann play the Crying Game instead?
Secret Satan 2013 Wishlist
I see you found my Rainbow Brite diary; return it to it's place of origin, would you kindly?
@Kakaidomos
They're all idiots.
I know a bunch of traders and hedge fund guys who've decided they're never giving money to any Republicans ever again.
Truly, this shit is bananas.
Yep, maybe the Koch brothers can withstand this sort of shenanigans but the majority of fiscal conservatives (read: moneyed individuals who don't want to be taxed so much) are not happy at all with this nonsense. My stepfather and his golf group are about as card carrying Republicans as you can get and usually toe the party line as much as possible. All of them are livid with the House right now.
They don't want the ACA, of course. Just none of them think it's at all worth the economic damage even in the worst case scenario.
The clip of her kissing a veteran like he's a puppy at the WWII memorial just drove me nuts.
that graph is a reflection of the cost of dumping treasury bills to other people before they reach maturity on October 31st
default remains unlikely, the House has already passed a bill to guarantee and pay all treasury bills that would come due during a prolonged debt ceiling fight
tbh buying those october bonds would be a pretty sweet bet
She is the only politician Minnesota is known for and everyone here but her district hates her
Check out the 4 week yield on the 10/3 auction vs the 4 week yield on the 10/10 auction.
http://www.treasurydirect.gov/RI/OFBills
The US is absolutely paying a higher rate on treasury bills this week than it did last week.
yeah but 4-week bonds are not how the united states finances its perennial bazillion dollar budget deficit
I would like to see how many of these things they actually sell compared to 1+ year bonds
because the guy on the radio has a better understanding of economics and the impact of failing to raise the debt limit than the incredible vast majority of economists across the entire world who say failing to raise the debt limit would basically be the worst possible outcome
I wanted to yell at the radio
hey now, Minnesota is also known for electing a professional wrestler as governor
and society has still not fully reimbursed the cast of Predator for their landmark performance
didn't realize the deficit had been reduced that much
http://labs.enigma.io/shutdown2013/
Cut it out.
Thanks for the website @Weaver
Love it.
Nice.
Everyone go read the promo blurb on the website, it's pretty great.
Edited to show all the representative will actually read of your email.
:rotate:
I'm sure. It's as much for me as it for him.
Of course, the House Majority Leader refuses to acknowledge that the debt has dramatically lowered and still uses it as an example of one of Obama's failures to compromise.
there are still long term budget issues that the the Democrats seek to do nothing about. That graph boldly ends at 2018. Check out how it looks when it goes to 2030 under the scenario that Medicare is not reformed
That was pretty funny.
Then I read the forum post underneath it where a dude said CDprojektRED should "stay out of our politics" because they are in poland.
Then I laughed again until I realized that dude was serious.
Bills are usually around 1.5 billion, notes are around 7.5 and bonds are 1.3. You can get the data from the debt outstanding page on the Treasury site. SIFMA also has a breakdown somewhere.
If the Treasury is issuing bills then it's using that to finance the deficit. Saying that it doesn't is just wrong.
It's a hollow argument. If the debt was a serious concern taxes would be raised in relation to real world need on almost all areas of taxation (most taxes haven't grown relative to their need, for example see the Gas Tax which has remained the same 18c since 1995), boost infrastructure spending, and pass actual jobs bills that encourage the tax base to get back to work and generate revenue. All three of these actions have shown to considerably reduce deficit spending in both short and long term.
I wanna say you're missing a 'by military spending' in there, but I'm not sure.
Exactly. Taxes are way too low. Across the board, but mostly on the top two quintiles. our taxation is essentially frozen at the same rates or lower as 1979, despite modern needs for infrastructure, social support, and military spending balooning with actual costs during the last 30 years. If you look at any other first world country in the entire world you will not find lower taxation across the board than in the US, and while that delicate balance can be a good thing when properly managed it isn't a blank check for cutting all taxes and demanding all the same costs.
And before you get into the "but but, cut the costs" nonsense, remember that if the argument that cutting welfare and support spending was the actual solution here then something like the ACA should be widely supported by the right as it allows a huge opportunity to lobby for pushing things like medicare and medicaid into those exchanges and off the federal dole, which was the reason most of these policies were originally proposed by the late 1990s Republicans.