Government Policy and Budget Discussion Thread (no politics)

[CWSooner]

The CBO predicted that GW's tax cuts would cost the US about $500B in revenue annually.  And...that's exactly what happened.  I like those CBO guys, they area almost always spot on.

Were the CBO guys predicting the 9/11 attacks and the economic damage that would cause?

[Big Beef Tacosupreme]

Were the CBO guys predicting the 9/11 attacks and the economic damage that would cause?

No, but recessions happen and that was figured in.  In reality it has been more than $500B annually.

[CWSooner]

No, but recessions happen and that was figured in.  In reality it has been more than $500B annually.

Actually, I don't think the CBO would have figured a recession into their calculations.  I believe that their own rules require them to use a "static" model of the economy.

[Kris60]

I have to ask CD what exactly about The Golden Rule he disagrees with.

[Cincydawg]

If I treated people the way I want to be treated .... They'd hate me.

[OrangeAfroMan]

False.

[OrangeAfroMan]

We need planned corrections and purposeful direction to our evolving society.  The combination of our economy and government types freely evolving organically isn't good, long-term.  

[Kris60]

If I treated people the way I want to be treated .... They'd hate me.

Why do you want to be treated poorly?

[CWSooner]

We need planned corrections and purposeful direction to our evolving society.  The combination of our economy and government types freely evolving organically isn't good, long-term.

Could you explain what your second sentence means, and then provide an example of a planned correction or purposeful direction you would endorse?

[CWSooner]

Methinks Cincydawg is pulling legs tonight.

[bayareabadger]

You mean things like "resist", "not my president", kids being put through hell for wearing red hats, and endless investigations?

Stuff like that?



(no need to answer... we are just really f'd up right now.)

I recall some "not my president," one endless investigation of a political rival and another, well a campaign by a future president for an investigation. Obviously hats weren't a thing at that point. A "resist" part seems not exactly analogous to the Tea Party push, but some of the fiery sentiments echo. 

To me, much of the tone was brought to light though the last campaign. We'd been brewing elements of all this for a while. Words had been heated from the left through the W era, but were mostly taken at pearl clutching and such. Through the 2008-16 run, I think a certain extra level of extreme tone was burbling, more effectively from the party not controlling the executive (we talked about a "war on Christmas" and people seemed endlessly triggered by "happy holidays"). Different sides employed different brass knuckled approaches, with some hard-edged realpolitik to grind things to a halt and then try to slow them down. 

And then in all this, you had a looming specter of a party that had held the executive for so long in seemingly better shape on that front. The other side's field was weak. There was talk of demographic changes putting the squeeze on that side. And it allowed a crack for a person with nothing to lose to harness that extreme tone. That tone had always been powerful, but had been kept as the quiet part. Suddenly it was loud. Historically, that brashness created missteps and missteps were costly. But it turned out that tone was quite powerful. It bundled with the game theory that keeps us at two parties, that at a point, people have to put something aside for something else they want. And in the dark parts of ourselves, I think there's some satisfaction in indulging in that kind of extreme tone. The right use of that tone, the right appeal in certain sectors and the natural coming home phenomenon allowed for a big swing.   

And when the electoral outcome fell, it made that tone not the impediment it once was, but made clear it's the source of strength it has slowly grown into. The left has long been more hamfisted in trying to harness such a tone. The right, more elegant and sharp, like a boxer tight in its movements. And we find ourselves in this spot, at least until someone can capture electoral wins with a different sort of rhetoric. 

[bayareabadger]

All the primaries should be held on the same day, and "calls" should not be made until ALL the votes come in. This way, there is more incentive to vote.

Also, no "calls" on election day. Hawaii be like "Why bother. _______ already won." That's f'd up.

Interestingly, this works against the "small states matter" approach to the EC.

I live in a state that's gonna vote the same way until a massive demographic or political upheaval comes. But because of the staggered primaries, we end up seeing a good bit of presidential candidates. We're not a big state, probably go too early, but if everyone voted the same day, few candidates would traverse our small highways and fill our small civic centers because there are bigger fish to fry.

Now I don't think that's a particular upside. I think the EC protecting rural interests argument is weak at best. I even think the rural-urban dynamics between both parties are most likely dramatically over-simplified for clean narrative reasons. But in the end, that would be one modest externality of stacked primaries. 

[bayareabadger]

Wow, you guys sure abandoned the "no politics" in a hurry.

Need football back ASAP

[OrangeAfroMan]

Could you explain what your second sentence means, and then provide an example of a planned correction or purposeful direction you would endorse?

Like how Jefferson suggested constitutional revisions every 20 years or so.  Wide-scope corrections/improvements...basically building on what is learned over time, instead of waiting for a certain party (or special interest) to gain or lose control.  

Examples that come to mind are probably social equality issues that could have been taken care of decades earlier.  Speaking more broadly, that would be tough, because it'd be time-sensitive.  

Everybody loves the constitution and it's great and all, but there are many out there who treat it like it was carved into stone by the baby jesus from on-high.  It's not perfect.  It can be improved/edited.  Why not improve/edit it?