Tag: bankruptcy
“The toll collectors on the road to serfdom.”
Health premiums to double under Obamacare.
Finding out what’s in it: Health premiums to double under Obamacare.
Finding out what’s in it: Health premiums to double under Obamacare.
The future of the social security program is worse than you think.
The future of the social security program is worse than you think.
For the first time in more than a quarter-century, Social Security ran a deficit in 2010: It spent $49 billion dollars more in benefits than it received in revenues, and drew from its trust funds to cover the shortfall. Those funds — a $2.7 trillion buffer built in anticipation of retiring baby boomers — will be exhausted by 2033, the government currently projects.
And this is from the New York Times, of all places! Of course, as soon as any politician suggests instituting any of the reforms suggested in the article the Times will then start screaming bloody murder in protest. They are very good at appearing nuanced and thoughtful about the debt, until someone actually suggests doing something about it.
The future of the social security program is worse than you think.
For the first time in more than a quarter-century, Social Security ran a deficit in 2010: It spent $49 billion dollars more in benefits than it received in revenues, and drew from its trust funds to cover the shortfall. Those funds — a $2.7 trillion buffer built in anticipation of retiring baby boomers — will be exhausted by 2033, the government currently projects.
And this is from the New York Times, of all places! Of course, as soon as any politician suggests instituting any of the reforms suggested in the article the Times will then start screaming bloody murder in protest. They are very good at appearing nuanced and thoughtful about the debt, until someone actually suggests doing something about it.
To avoid Obamacare, companies are turning more employees into part-timers while also cutting back on hires.
Surprise surprise! To avoid Obamacare, companies are cutting back, turning more employees into part-timers while also refusing to hire new employees.
And we’ve only just begun. The cost of this bad law is so high it will squelch everything it touches.
Surprise surprise! To avoid Obamacare, companies are cutting back, turning more employees into part-timers while also refusing to hire new employees.
And we’ve only just begun. The cost of this bad law is so high it will squelch everything it touches.
The good, bad, and (mostly) ugly of the fiscal deal.
The good, bad, and (mostly) ugly of the fiscal deal.
And then there is this: Six idiotic things included in the fiscal cliff deal that will add to the national debt.
The good, bad, and (mostly) ugly of the fiscal deal.
And then there is this: Six idiotic things included in the fiscal cliff deal that will add to the national debt.
The deindustrialization of America.
The deindustrialization of America.
But don’t worry. Congress has delayed dealing with the debt for another few months!
The deindustrialization of America.
But don’t worry. Congress has delayed dealing with the debt for another few months!
The federal government has reached its debt limit today.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government has reached its debt limit today.
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner told Congress that the U.S. hit its statutory debt limit, necessitating emergency steps announced last week as a way to keep funding the government and avoid default. Geithner said he had issued a “debt issuance suspension period” for the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, effective today and to last until Feb. 28, 2013. The letter said the Treasury was taking similar action for the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.
This is only a temporary solution that solves nothing. And the fake negotiations over the fake “fiscal cliff” are doing even less than nothing to deal with the debt situation. We are bankrupt and worse, we are continuing to refuse to face that reality.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government has reached its debt limit today.
Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner told Congress that the U.S. hit its statutory debt limit, necessitating emergency steps announced last week as a way to keep funding the government and avoid default. Geithner said he had issued a “debt issuance suspension period” for the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, effective today and to last until Feb. 28, 2013. The letter said the Treasury was taking similar action for the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund.
This is only a temporary solution that solves nothing. And the fake negotiations over the fake “fiscal cliff” are doing even less than nothing to deal with the debt situation. We are bankrupt and worse, we are continuing to refuse to face that reality.
The federal government will hit the debt ceiling on December 31.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government will hit the debt ceiling on December 31.
The treasury will do things to stall the inevitable crash, but in the end, our elected leaders – backed by the voters — are doing nothing to solve this debt problem. (On this note, consider the absolute refusal of this Democrat to consider any spending cuts in negotiations with the Republicans.) The crash is coming.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government will hit the debt ceiling on December 31.
The treasury will do things to stall the inevitable crash, but in the end, our elected leaders – backed by the voters — are doing nothing to solve this debt problem. (On this note, consider the absolute refusal of this Democrat to consider any spending cuts in negotiations with the Republicans.) The crash is coming.
Obama’s proposal to avoid sequestration would increase spending 55 percent over the next decade.
The day of reckoning looms: Obama’s proposal to avoid sequestration would increase spending 55 percent over the next decade.
I can’t understand how is it that anyone takes anything this guy says seriously.
The day of reckoning looms: Obama’s proposal to avoid sequestration would increase spending 55 percent over the next decade.
I can’t understand how is it that anyone takes anything this guy says seriously.
Seven charts that outline the true and terrible state of the economy.
The day of reckoning looms: Seven charts that outline the true and terrible state of the economy.
The day of reckoning looms: Seven charts that outline the true and terrible state of the economy.
“We are not going to do anything.”
Senate Democrats in action: “We are not going to do anything.”
But of course, it will be the Republicans’ fault, even though their proposed bill is one that Harry Reid himself considered acceptable earlier this year.
Senate Democrats in action: “We are not going to do anything.”
But of course, it will be the Republicans’ fault, even though their proposed bill is one that Harry Reid himself considered acceptable earlier this year.
Hurricane Sandy relief funding turns into Porkfest 2012
Surprise surprise! Hurricane Sandy relief funding turns into Porkfest 2012.
Surprise surprise! Hurricane Sandy relief funding turns into Porkfest 2012.
Sequestration and NASA
Here we go again. Yesterday an aerospace organization, Aerospace Industries Association, released a sixteen page report [pdf] claiming that NASA will lose 20,500 jobs and NOAA 2,500 if the federal government goes over the “fiscal cliff” and sequestration happens.
Immediately, a slew of news articles xeroxed this report to pound home this point, noting the job loses for the specific cities of each newspaper and how disaster awaits the country if sequestration is allowed to take place and we go over that blessed “fiscal cliff”:
- Fiscal cliff could cost Colorado 2,100 space jobs
- Budget cuts to cost Houston more than 5,000 NASA jobs, study says
- 1,300 aerospace jobs said at risk in Huntsville if nation goes over fiscal cliff
The trouble is, this is all hogwash and bad journalism.
» Read more
Lacking focus
A new National Research Council report released yesterday says that NASA lacks focus nor can it complete the missions it has with the resources available.
» Read more
The toughest bridge in the world
An evening pause: I think the trucks in this video are a perfect metaphor for the American public’s attitude towards the federal debt. So what there are yellow flashing warning signs! Charge on!
The real fiscal cliff
But no one … at this point seems to have grasped that [nothing will be solved] unless the avoidance of the fiscal cliff includes measures that radically cut the deficit and end the unspeakable fraud of 70 percent of the country’s $1 to $1.5 trillion federal deficit being covered by phony notes cyber-clicked into existence from the Treasury’s 100 percent subsidiary, the Federal Reserve. No test of psychological confidence will be passed by this charade, nor any test of Grade 3 arithmetic either. The administration swaddles itself in a few weeks of a record-breaking rise in economic-growth and tax-collection rates. But this is only three weeks, and applies to a built-in annual budget deficit of $1.5 trillion on top of an accumulated national debt that took 232 years to get to $10 trillion in 2008 and made it to $16 trillion this year. (And there are still 5 million fewer people working in the U.S. than there were four years ago.) [emphasis mine]
This fake political term, “The fiscal cliff”, is an unmitigated lie, created by politicians to disguise their failure to actually deal with the debt. They are using it to avoid even cutting spending levels back to 2008 numbers, a reduction in spending that would hardly be noticed in the bloated, overweight, and increasingly oppressive federal bureaucracy.
But no one … at this point seems to have grasped that [nothing will be solved] unless the avoidance of the fiscal cliff includes measures that radically cut the deficit and end the unspeakable fraud of 70 percent of the country’s $1 to $1.5 trillion federal deficit being covered by phony notes cyber-clicked into existence from the Treasury’s 100 percent subsidiary, the Federal Reserve. No test of psychological confidence will be passed by this charade, nor any test of Grade 3 arithmetic either. The administration swaddles itself in a few weeks of a record-breaking rise in economic-growth and tax-collection rates. But this is only three weeks, and applies to a built-in annual budget deficit of $1.5 trillion on top of an accumulated national debt that took 232 years to get to $10 trillion in 2008 and made it to $16 trillion this year. (And there are still 5 million fewer people working in the U.S. than there were four years ago.) [emphasis mine]
This fake political term, “The fiscal cliff”, is an unmitigated lie, created by politicians to disguise their failure to actually deal with the debt. They are using it to avoid even cutting spending levels back to 2008 numbers, a reduction in spending that would hardly be noticed in the bloated, overweight, and increasingly oppressive federal bureaucracy.
“It will be very costly.”
Guess what: “It will be very costly.”
Guess what: “It will be very costly.”
The overall debt from student loans now exceeds $1 trillion, with defaults skyrocking. The solution from one Democratic Congressman: a $1 trillion bailout.
The day of reckoning looms: The overall debt from student loans now exceeds $1 trillion, with defaults skyrocketing. The solution from one Democratic Congressman: a $1 trillion bailout. More here.
The day of reckoning looms: The overall debt from student loans now exceeds $1 trillion, with defaults skyrocketing. The solution from one Democratic Congressman: a $1 trillion bailout. More here.
“1,200 days and $5 trillion in new debt since Senate Democrats passed a budget.”
“1,200 days and $5 trillion in new debt since Senate Democrats passed a budget.”
An annual budget is required by law. Harry Reid’s answer: “It would be foolish for us to do a budget at this stage.” And what do the American people do? They reward the Democrats, providing proof positive that we are in very bad shape and heading for disaster.
“1,200 days and $5 trillion in new debt since Senate Democrats passed a budget.”
An annual budget is required by law. Harry Reid’s answer: “It would be foolish for us to do a budget at this stage.” And what do the American people do? They reward the Democrats, providing proof positive that we are in very bad shape and heading for disaster.
52 Nobel Peace Prize winners have called for the boycott of Israel for its recent attacks in Gaza.
Intellectual bankruptcy: 52 Nobel Peace Prize winners, artists, and activists have called for the boycott of Israel for its recent attacks in Gaza.
And where were these so-called intellectuals when Hamas was lobbing rockets into Israel? For them, I guess it is all right to kill Jews. And God forbid the Jews decide to defend themselves.
Intellectual bankruptcy: 52 Nobel Peace Prize winners, artists, and activists have called for the boycott of Israel for its recent attacks in Gaza.
And where were these so-called intellectuals when Hamas was lobbing rockets into Israel? For them, I guess it is all right to kill Jews. And God forbid the Jews decide to defend themselves.
The federal government’s debt ceiling will be reached no later than the end of February, and possibly sooner.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government’s debt ceiling will be reached no later than the end of February, and possibly sooner.
The day of reckoning looms: The federal government’s debt ceiling will be reached no later than the end of February, and possibly sooner.
The willingness of a small union to bankrupt Hostess will help do the same for many other companies.
The day of reckoning looms: The willingness of a small union to bankrupt Hostess will help do the same to many other companies.
And guess what? It is because of another ill-conceived federal law.
The day of reckoning looms: The willingness of a small union to bankrupt Hostess will help do the same to many other companies.
And guess what? It is because of another ill-conceived federal law.
Don’t you dare call it default!
The day of reckoning looms: Don’t you dare call it default!
The day of reckoning looms: Don’t you dare call it default!
Our country’s road to bankruptcy, in one chart.
The day of reckoning looms: Our country’s road to bankruptcy, in one chart.
The day of reckoning looms: Our country’s road to bankruptcy, in one chart.
A new audit has found that the Federal Housing Administration has a deficit of $13.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in September.
The day of reckoning looms: A new audit has found that the Federal Housing Administration has a deficit of $13.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in September.
The day of reckoning looms: A new audit has found that the Federal Housing Administration has a deficit of $13.5 billion for the fiscal year ending in September.
California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation.
Success! California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation.
California’s state legislature and governorship have both been held by the Democrats for years. Both have repeatedly raised taxes. Both have repeatedly failed to balance the state’s budget. And both have been and continue to be eager to increase government regulation on the state’s citizenry. What could go wrong?
Update: In related news, Los Angeles’ film and television industry has lost 16,100 jobs in past seven years, mostly due to businesses leaving the state.
Success! California now has the highest poverty rate in the nation.
California’s state legislature and governorship have both been held by the Democrats for years. Both have repeatedly raised taxes. Both have repeatedly failed to balance the state’s budget. And both have been and continue to be eager to increase government regulation on the state’s citizenry. What could go wrong?
Update: In related news, Los Angeles’ film and television industry has lost 16,100 jobs in past seven years, mostly due to businesses leaving the state.
Hostess Brands — already in bankruptcy — has decided to shut down because one of its unions refused to end a strike.
Be careful what you wish for: Hostess Brands — already in bankruptcy — has decided to shut down because one of its unions refused to end a strike.
The closing will result in Hostess’ nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents around 5,000 Hostess employees. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement.
So, because 5,000 union workers wanted more from a company that had nothing more to give, 18,500 lose their jobs, including those same union workers.
Sounds sensible, and right in line with most leftwing math.
Be careful what you wish for: Hostess Brands — already in bankruptcy — has decided to shut down because one of its unions refused to end a strike.
The closing will result in Hostess’ nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well as 570 outlet stores. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union represents around 5,000 Hostess employees. “We deeply regret the necessity of today’s decision, but we do not have the financial resources to weather an extended nationwide strike,” said CEO Gregory Rayburn in a statement.
So, because 5,000 union workers wanted more from a company that had nothing more to give, 18,500 lose their jobs, including those same union workers.
Sounds sensible, and right in line with most leftwing math.
The Democratic senator seeking the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee has refused to promise to write a budget next year.
What Americans apparently wanted: The Democratic senator seeking the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee has refused to promise to write a budget next year.
This will be the fourth year in a row that the Democrats in the Senate have failed to write a budget. And note, they don’t need a single Republican vote to do it, since budget bills cannot be fillibusted.
As I like to say, the day of reckoning looms.
What Americans apparently wanted: The Democratic senator seeking the chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee has refused to promise to write a budget next year.
This will be the fourth year in a row that the Democrats in the Senate have failed to write a budget. And note, they don’t need a single Republican vote to do it, since budget bills cannot be fillibusted.
As I like to say, the day of reckoning looms.
Harry Reid said Thursday that the Democrats intend to raise the debt limit another $2.4 trillion.
The day of reckoning looms: Harry Reid said Thursday that the Democrats intend to raise the debt limit another $2.4 trillion.
The day of reckoning looms: Harry Reid said Thursday that the Democrats intend to raise the debt limit another $2.4 trillion.
Wall Street stocks plummeted today for the second day in a row.
The new America: Wall Street stocks plummeted today for the second day in a row.
I wonder why. What happened two days ago that might have shaken the confidence of the business world?
The new America: Wall Street stocks plummeted today for the second day in a row.
I wonder why. What happened two days ago that might have shaken the confidence of the business world?