Sonders: Debt-Ceiling Solution Is Sitting There, But Nobody Is Talking About It

This is an ideal opportunity for both sides, and the American public, to debate the future of the country. What do we do about manufacturing jobs lost to other countries? How about our role as the world's lone Sheriff? Energy and infrastructure?
Nope, we are going to argue over how the chairs ought to be arranged while the ship sinks. Of course, in this age of political acrimony, it is to be expected. Unfortunate, really, that history is going to repeat itself, only this time the US will follow England into has-been land.

If we simply held spending at current level we would save 9T in 10 years.

Politicians shied away from Simpson-Bowles because it touched the "third rail". It suggested that changes in medicare and social security were needed to meet projected future outlays.

That pretty much put a fork in it by the "party like its 2012" crowd.

It's mind boggling to me that all the "experts" are talking about is cutting benefits at home, raising taxes, etc. But what about the boat loads of money this government is sending over
seas that is going down a rat hole. Like the 60 billion dollars sent to Iraq that no one knows how it was used.knows how it was used.

HERE'S A BETTER PLAN; Cut Congressmen's pay by 1/3rd, take away their health insurance, terminate their pension plan and force them to hire assistants who don't speak English. Then step back and watch them, haha

The two "deals" being offered reduce the DEFICIT by less than 10%, and GROW the debt $1T a year for a decade.

We're like a guy going to his bank and saying "Look, my credit card's maxed out, because I'm spending $1.40 for every dollar I earn... So I need you to raise my credit limit so I can keep spending.

But, I'll tell you what... I promise I'll only spend $1.35 for every dollar I earn in the future, OK?"

You think your bank would consider THAT responsible?

EITHER WAY, we deserve a downgrade.

I'm really getting sick of these games Pliticians are playing. It's getting really old and I'm sick and tired of the doom and gloom. People really need to open their eyes and stop keeping people in office for more then 10 years.

AAA rating! We can't even balance our budget!!

Let's see, what if we close the loop holes in taxes. what is wrong with this idea? I don't understand why republicans don't want to agree with this idea. You can save Billions. Everyone knows how these loop holes are helping GE and other big companies to not pay any taxes.
Get rid of these loopholes for big corporates and extra rich! It may not be enough, but atleast a good start, which makes sense to most people.

If our country tried to get a home loan it would be denied. The bank would see us burried in debt and say thanks but no thanks.

People are feed up with the 100% corrupt government
The system is obsolete and no longer functional.

The only solution to the problemn is outflow must match in-flow. Why every year has the spending not been tallied and then revenues raised to meet the spending. It is not rocket science. How did our country become ignorant? Free lunch after free lunch. How come the people in charge allow this situation to happen?

Best solution is to do nothing. On Aug 3rd we'll only be able to spend the amount of money we take in. Instant balanced budget. Then use the 2012 election to determine how much of this spending is really needed and whether taxes should be raised to pay for add'l stuff. I'm guessing we'd get without most of it quite nicely.

When corporations earning hundreds of billions of dollars such as ExxonMobil and GE etc pay 0 taxes, what do you expect?? You can blame everything under the sun, but you're looking in the wrong direction.

Solution everyone can follow to solve this problem. Study hard, don't break any laws, never spend more than you make, work as many jobs as you need to to support your lifestyle, don't buy a house or have children unless you can afford them, exercise every day, eat no more than 2000 calories per day, turn off your ipods, ipads, and TV's, read 50 books a year, give 10% of your income to charity, learn at least 4-5 languages, listen 25 times more than you speak, speak kindly of everyone, even those you dispise, send people to Washington that are not your representative, but are representave of you, don't ask this government or any govenment for anything you should be able to provide for yourself, never lease a car, never buy a new car, never buy a car that has anything more than power steering and air conditioning, and most of all give fate a fighting chance.

A bipartisan plan that makes sense? And the politicians are not talking about it?

I loved the proposal that would freeze "most" federal employees pay for three years. How about a cut for all government employees. A report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics says the average cost per government employee is $40.54 per hour, while the average cost of a private sector employee is $28.10. Government pensions are unrealistic and need to be tied to social security. Or better yet, all government employees should be required to pay into social security, including the idiots in Washington.

If we implemented Simpson-Bowles, both sides would be unhappy, so it would have been a great compromise . . . you know, that dirty word.

how abut taxing the super rich

Obama appointed a debt commission so he wouldn't have to face the tough issues before the mid-term elections. Didn't quite work out as well as he planned.
When the recommendations from HIS commission were put forth, he promptly ignored them. Now there is more talk of another panel to look into the deficit. What is the point? Go with Simpson Bowles recommendations and move on.