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George Rebane

Detracking America.  “’Detracking’ is an increasingly popular proposal among socialist educators that attempts to reduce the degree to which students are separated by academic ability. It typically takes the form of removing advanced course offerings or delaying the introduction of these offerings. Supporters claim that marginalized students are often wrongly placed—or place themselves—in less advanced courses and that these students often stay on a less advanced curricular path.” (more here)

The daily confirmation arrives in truckloads that the Democratic Party is truly the evil anti-American party, aided ably in their quest to destroy our republic by harebrained Republicans who can’t get their act together.

‘The Data Prove Government Is Spending Too Much’  Americans for Tax Reform recently launched the Sustainable Budget Project from which we read – “The U.S. national debt recently passed $33 trillion, more than 120% of gross domestic product. Left-wing politicians assert that Americans are undertaxed, but the data show that the government spends too much.”  Americans for Tax Reform has offered a very practical rule by which to construct sustainable budgets – limit the budget increases to “the rate of population growth plus inflation.”  Bottom line – “If government grows faster than this rate, then it is growing faster than what the average taxpayer can afford.”  (more here

Kaja Kallas[8oct23 update] Estonia advises Ukraine.  ““You can’t bribe a computer,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told me. When it’s time to rebuild, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky should heed these words. Estonia—a member of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization—is No. 1 in providing government services digitally, according to the United Nations; first in democratic development among 29 postcommunist countries, according to Freedom House; first in international tax competitiveness, according to the Tax Foundation (the U.S. is 22nd); and sixth in the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom, according to the Heritage Foundation (the U.S. is 25th). It has the most startups per capita in Europe, and its 15-year-olds top the Continent in reading, science and mathematics.” (more here)

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141 responses to “Scattershots – 4oct23 (updated 8oct23)”

  1. Scott O Avatar

    re “Government Is Spending Too Much” – there’s an interesting bit in the WSJ (not paywalled if you go through Drudge – ‘Wall St Not Sure It Can Handle All of Washington’s Bonds…’). How many times do folks have to be told that it works great until it doesn’t?
    Most amusing line: “Now, the steep declines in prices of Treasurys—meant to be the world’s safest and easiest-to-trade investment—are forcing markets to confront the possibility that the rates required to place all this debt will be higher than anyone expected.”
    Really? ‘…than ANYONE expected?’
    This is the standard line to try to excuse the fact that the writer of the article has been dismissing information available for decades that there is, indeed, a limit to what the US govt can borrow from the world and have the world just shrug and accept low rates in return.
    Let’s hope the absolute limit has yet to be reached and the knuckleheads in DC as well as the American public get used to the fact that there’s no free lunch.
    Usual disclaimer:
    Not holding my breath.

    Like

  2. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Scott
    How come that “limit” was not a concern to the Repubs when Trump ran up a 7 Trillion deficit? Also Bush totally trashed the economy when he was Pres. The closest we’ve had to a balanced budget was under Clinton 2nd term certainly not Reagan, either Bush or Trump.

    Like

  3. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Reagan was the absolute champ Between the beginning and the end of the Reagan presidency, the annual deficit almost tripled. So did the gross national debt — from $995 billion to $2.9 trillion.
    “Reagan took the deficit from $70 billion to $175 billion. Bush 41 took it to $300 billion. Clinton got it to zero. Bush 43 took it from zero to $1.2 trillion. Obama halved it to $600 billion. Trump’s got it back to a trillion.”
    https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2019/jul/29/tweets/republican-presidents-democrats-contribute-deficit/

    Like

  4. 🐠 Avatar
    🐠

    Reagan took the deficit from $70 billion to $175 billion. Bush 41 took it to $300 billion. Clinton got it to zero. Bush 43 took it from zero to $1.2 trillion. Obama halved it to $600 billion. Trump’s got it back to a trillion.”

    As comfortable as you are with it you can’t use the same metric that you prefer …..Change Depth in the Guitar Case…or CDGC….for this kind of accounting Punch.

    Like

  5. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Clinton got it to zero?
    Hardly… that was Newt Gingrich that got it to zero, with Clinton & Friends pissing and moaning the whole way.
    And Punchy… you keep ignoring the fact that the congress was keeping the pressure up to keep the economy shut down… covid being the scary monster du jour.

    Like

  6. Scott O Avatar

    Paul continues to look at this as a Dem vs R deal. I’ve pointed out more than once that the die was cast back in the 30s with SS and then the 60s with Medicare. Entitlements are the biggest problem but vote buying, bloated govt growth and earmarks don’t help one bit.
    Paul complains about Trump being a big spender but goes totally silent when I say then give Trump the blue pencil and have him go to it.
    Then watch Paul scream his head off that Trump won’t spend enough.
    What a BS artist Paul is.
    You can not raise taxes on the wealthiest to balance the budget -ever.
    The expenditures will simply race ahead. Look at CA’s budget mess. Now they are once again pleading with the feds to have the American tax payers bail out the Dems in CA.
    Nothing to do with Trump or the Rs – just total Dem lunacy and incompetence.

    Like

  7. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Just stating the facts Scott tat Trump increased the deficit by 7 Trillion.
    Do you deny that?

    Like

  8. Scott O Avatar

    Paul – “Trump, Trump, Trump……!!!”

    Like

  9. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Scott
    Fact that Trump increased the deficit by 7 Trillion. Do you deny that?

    Like

  10. fishhole Avatar
    fishhole

    Matlock asks the question a second time…..

    Fact that Trump increased the deficit by 7 Trillion. Do you deny that?

    Matlock is an idiot.

    Like

  11. Individual Juan Avatar
    Individual Juan

    “The government is spending too much”…but what do they spend it on?
    It’s called trickle down theory.
    You give the gubmint money, they hire people to manage and make things and give the citizenry money to spend on stuff from China.
    You defund the gubmint and many more people apply for unemployment, can’t buy stuff…then what?

    Like

  12. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    fishole
    Fact is that Trump increased the deficit by 7 Trillion. Do you deny that?
    https://www.self.inc/info/us-debt-by-president/

    Like

  13. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “To tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, national debt was increased by a further 18.01% totaling $4.25 trillion in additional debt from March 2020 to Jan 2021.”
    from Punchy’s link
    So, the 7 trillion deficit he blames on Trump was in actuality 2.75T plus 4.25T that was trashed for COVID.
    Punch, you are such a bloody f’kn tool.

    Like

  14. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    So, the 7 trillion deficit he blames on Trump was in actuality 2.75T plus 4.25T that was trashed for COVID. Do you deny this, Punch?

    Like

  15. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch?…
    Punch?…
    Punch?…
    Punch?…
    Punch?…

    Like

  16. Scott O Avatar

    Lonely Juanita – “You defund the gubmint…”
    Who advocated for ‘defunding’ the govt?
    At least you waited until slightly after noon to hit the booze.

    Like

  17. Scott O Avatar

    Gregory – “Punch, you are such a bloody f’kn tool”
    It’s TDS – Paul has a rather hopeless case.

    Like

  18. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punch needs adult supervision.

    Like

  19. fishhole Avatar
    fishhole

    Punch needs adult supervision.
    Punch needs a 5150 hold.

    Like

  20. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    hmmm… how many guns does Punchy own?

    Like

  21. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Paul Emery
    From the beginning of your campaign to inform everyone as to the profligate spending of Trump, I’ve been telling you that COVID was a part of it.
    I’d like to thank your source for including that as a separate issue.
    But fuck you very much for your mindless repetition of the basic charge.
    I think you’ve repeated it maybe 10 to 15 times. It’s time for a formal retraction and apology. From you. Now.

    Like

  22. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Gregory writes “Trump was in actuality 2.75T plus 4.25T that was trashed for COVID.”
    Provide link or I’ll assume you’re making it up because you always make excuses for your guy Trump.

    Like

  23. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    i told you already…”from Punchy’s link”
    an impeccable source

    Like

  24. 🐠 Avatar
    🐠

    ……i told you already…”from Punchy’s link”
    ……he….doesn’t…..read…..links!
    Self admitted.

    Like

  25. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Yes Gregory it was on Trumps watch that the 4.25 was spend on covid so it’s his responsibility.

    Like

  26. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Bizarre twisted logic even for you, punch.

    Like

  27. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    If it’s not the Presidents responsibility then whose responsibility is it Gregory?

    Like

  28. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    Wallowing in ignorance again oh great ponytail of ignorance @9 LOL
    😉

    Like

  29. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    That would be the Speaker of the House. The last two years of the Trump administration, that was Nancy Pelosi.

    Like

  30. fishhole Avatar
    fishhole

    Total US Debt hits a record

    “The US added – checks notes – $275 billion in debt in, uh, ONE
    DAY
    Total US debt is now $33.442 trillion, hit $33 trillion just 2 weeks
    ago, and on pace to rise by $1 trillion in 1 month.
    WTF is going on”

    Remember Punch…..it’s the guy who is holding the bag last.

    Like

  31. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    So that means the Repubs are responsible for the debt of the last two years since they controll the house

    Like

  32. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Such a simple creature.

    Like

  33. 🐠 Avatar
    🐠

    So that means the Repubs are responsible for the debt of the last two years since they controll the house
    Harken back to long ago…..twelve or so hours ago when you were just so certain, “If it’s not the Presidents responsibility then whose responsibility is it Gregory?”.

    Like

  34. fishhole Avatar
    fishhole

    Such a simple creature.
    Such a simple creature….weasel.
    FTFY

    Like

  35. Individual Juan Avatar
    Individual Juan

    Gregor, So if you are deducting the Covid $4.5T from Trump’s spending, how much has Biden spent on Covid that you need to write off?

    Like

  36. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Jeff
    The pandemic is over.

    Like

  37. fishanthrope Avatar
    fishanthrope

    Gregor, So if you are deducting the Covid $4.5T from Trump’s spending, how much has Biden spent on Covid that you need to write off?
    A decent chunk since the beginning of President Brainstem’s inauguration….it’s a distinction that Nevada City’s very own resident brainstem has been unable to make!
    But Gregory is right….Shotgun Joey can’t grift on it anymore. Anyway he’s making his National Debt “bones” on the Ukraine fiasco…..

    Like

  38. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    February 2020… the pandemic was beginning to rage. Trump was President.
    And at the State of the Union adress, Pelosi ripped in two her copy of the speech.
    The following December the vaccine was rolled out.

    Like

  39. Individual Juan Avatar
    Individual Juan

    Gregor, so you are saying Biden does not get a pass Covid spending during his term?
    BTW – thanks for your latest installment of useless history @ 1011hrs.

    Like

  40. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Emergency spending is spending during emergencies, Jeff.
    I recall Democrats calling for all sorts of strange things… gatherins for GOP funerals were forbidden even with masks, DEM demonstrations were OK without masks because, well, because.
    It seemed as though DEMS were celebrating the wounding of DJT wherever possible.

    Like

  41. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “BTW – thanks for your latest installment of useless history @ 1011hrs.”
    You liked it. Good.
    Pelosi’s vindictiveness knew no bounds. Much like yours and Paul’s.

    Like

  42. fishhole Avatar
    fishhole

    Funny….when called on it (08:47a) Punchy always seems to disappear until he can attach himself to a new topic after the prior statement is…..ahem forgotten.

    Like

  43. Individual Juan Avatar
    Individual Juan

    Pablo, I see Gregor doesn’t seem to have the ability to answer the question as you have been pointing out for months 🤣

    Like

  44. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    I see Individual Jeff using a Russkie spelling of my name hearkening to the Russia hoax.
    There was no involvement of Russia with our elections of 2016 or 2020. The time to let go is past.

    Like

  45. 🐠 Avatar
    🐠

    Posted by: Individually Wrapped | 10 October 2023 at 11:34 AM
    Pablo, I see Gregor doesn’t seem to have the ability to answer the question as you have been pointing out for months

    He can and he does…..remember Punch doesn’t keep asking the question because it hasn’t been answered. He keeps asking the question because he forgets that it’s been answered.

    Like

  46. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    There is no significant question I’ve left unanswered for any length of time.
    Punchy just punches and counterpunches.

    Like

  47. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    So Gregory you claim Trump is not responsible for the budget deficits because the Dems controlled the House but with Biden President and the Repubs controlling the House it’s just the opposite. Do you realize how ridiculous your argument is? Shows once and for all what a Trumper you are. Anybody following this is surely having a laugh.
    Here’s a direct quote from you as to who was responsible for the debt and this is your answer:
    “That would be the Speaker of the House. The last two years of the Trump administration, that was Nancy Pelosi. ”
    When asked:
    “Gregor, So if you are deducting the Covid $4.5T from Trump’s spending, how much has Biden spent on Covid that you need to write of”
    You ignore the question by saying: “The pandemic is over. ”
    You are a joke. By then the economy was trashed all under Trumps watch.

    Like

  48. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    “So Gregory you claim Trump is not responsible for the budget deficits because the Dems controlled the House but with Biden President and the Repubs controlling the House it’s just the opposite. Do you realize how ridiculous your argument is?”
    That’s your cartoon version of what I wrote, Punch. Yes, your cartoon version is ridiculous.

    Like

  49. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Direct quotes from you Gregory

    Like

  50. Scott O Avatar

    “By then the economy was trashed all under Trumps watch.”
    What should Trump have done, Paul? Call out the 101st Airborne and have a fed takeover of all the state and local govts? That’s where the orders came from to shut down our economy.
    Should he have vetoed the bailouts? Would you have applauded that?
    Paul’s great at throwing rocks at the cars going by but a total zero at answering questions and offering specific suggestions as alternatives.
    Funny how everything bad that happened while Trump was pres is Trump’s fault but now Biden is responsible for nothing. Childish partisan nonsense.
    Ask the folks in Ukraine and Israel if they’re better off now that Trump is out of office.

    Like

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