Budget Gimmicks: Washington labels everything an “emergency” to spend more of your tax dollars.

President Biden and the Senate, plan to get around budget caps using an "emergency" loophole.
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CATO Director of Budget Policy Romina Boccia writes about that. She explains: "Call it an emergency, done. Spend the money on whatever you want."
Sadly, that's how it works in Washington.
It gets worse. The budget caps that politicians want to evade never even cut spending to begin with. They merely slowed the planned INCREASE in spending.
You can watch the video above to see what will happen if government keeps spending like crazy -- and also see a possible solution.

[@hersdera]

Things are strange right now. The US dollar is becoming less valuable because of inflation, but it's getting stronger compared to other currencies and things like gold and property. People are turning to the dollar because they think it's safer. I'm worried about my retirement savings of about $420,000 losing value because of high inflation. Where else can we keep our money?

[@bernadofelix]

Well I recommend you make a diversification plan because it's been harder to build a good financial portfolio since COVID. My colleague suggested I hire an advisor, and I've actually made over $120K with their help during this market crash. They used defensive strategies to protect my portfolio and make profits despite the ups and downs.

[@SandraDave.]

That's fascinating. How can I contact your Asset-coach as my portfolio is dwindling?

[@bernadofelix]

My Financial adviser is ‘’Margaret Johnson Arndt’’ she’s highly qualified and experienced in the financial market. She has extensive knowledge of portfolio diversity and is considered an expert in the field. I recommend researching her credentials further. She has many years of experience and is a valuable resource for anyone looking to navigate the financial market

[@23Butanedione]

I'm reporting everyone in this thread, get a job

[@23Butanedione]

​@@bernadofelixI'm guessing you're from Africa

[@MrBoondocker247]

#1 stop all foreign aid #2 end lifetime pensions for politicians #3 term limits #4 end lobbyists and special interest groups.

[@aliendroneservices6621]

None of that would reduce government-spending.

[@buckfiden1228]

@@aliendroneservices6621ummmmm…. All of that would reduce spending.

[@djomegaminus]

@@aliendroneservices6621 you're special, like Olympics.

[@MrBoondocker247]

@@aliendroneservices6621 it would be a start and end politicians entitlement

[@aliendroneservices6621]

@@MrBoondocker247 The start and end would be a budget cap. Your proposal is merely ineffective micromanagement.

[@gingerkilkus]

Since Biden took office, there seem to have been more unfavorable results in America. These results include effects on the markets, such as price declines and sharp increases in inflation, as well as bank failures. I wonder if the sudden increase in interest rates will help value investors or if it would be wiser to stay away from the stock and financial markets for the time being.

[@leojack9090]

To buy the dip It will be profitable in the long run. However, investors should be wary of the bull run. It is advisable to connect with a skilled adviser to fulfill your growth objectives and prevent mistakes. High interest rates typically result in lower stock prices.

[@TomD226]

I truly enjoy having a portfolio coach to help me make market judgments on a daily basis. They possess a special combination of abilities that enable them to take both long and short positions, benefiting from the possibility of significant gains while also safeguarding against downward turns. Additionally, they have access to exclusive knowledge and research that virtually guarantees they will outperform. I've had a portfolio coach for more than two years, and throughout that time I've actually earned over $432k. It was a wonderful experience!

[@lowcostfresh2266]

@@TomD226 This is exactly how i wish to get my finances coordinated ahead of retirement. Can I get access to your advisor?

[@TomD226]

​ @lowcostfresh2266 In fact, I'm not sure whether I'm permitted to say this, but I'd suggest searching for Laurel Dell Sroufe as she gained a lot of attention in 2020. She is both my coach and the manager of my portfolio.

[@channingtaintum]

You’re one of the very few journalists worth the respect of the public, John. Keep up the great work.

[@adoe2305]

​@TheFoolintherainn wow dude. Just wow. What are you doing?

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

@@TheFoolintherainn And what have YOU done other than harass people who are aware of what this government is doing?

[@ce7857]

He's one of the very few American "journalists", period. Almost all of the rest are shills of the global elites -- mere cheap propagandists.

[@TheFoolintherainn]

​@@mikewurlitzer5217answer my question. Why are you surprised by this?

[@TheFoolintherainn]

@@adoe2305 triggering woke wannabeees... You are all so easy to trigger. Lol! That's why John stossel has to act like a grandpa to tell you this stuff? I've known John stossel since before Barbara Walters He's been repeating the same thing for all these years and you don't get it? It's right smack in front of your faces-how in the heck did federal funds get to decide your local elections? I'm betting you have no idea what your local school board does and you don't care cuz it's about women and children... Trump just sent three hundred million dollars to the Taliban for women and children You haven't caught on yet?

[@spencerbrown6214]

The corruption of politicians is endless

[@TheFoolintherainn]

Yeah, the ignorance of the voters is even more so-they're all over Tik-Tok, but I don't see millions of views under this They are only outraged when instructed to do so Education system doesn't teach anyone how to think? Yet people with no passports, Flatlanders living in cities like sardines spewing their diseases all over each other, with their own feces running in leaky pipes above their heads are experts on the environment and foreign policy? The same type of people who went down to the bubonic plague get to decide global environmental policy? And you're falling for it! Many of us were whistleblowers back in the eighties and nineties calling out this corruption. We lost everything we owned trying to do the right thing.

[@0my]

MAGA 24

[@TheFoolintherainn]

@@0my we'll see what he can do. I've been following Trump for 50 years now-wasn't too fond of him and Ivanka sending three hundred million dollars to the freaking Taliban? If you had supported him thirty years ago, you might stand a chance. But you didn't take him seriously back then.

[@LordFalconsword]

And accountability is zero.

[@septembersurprise5178]

"The new political gospel: public office is private graft." - Mark Twain Nothing new under the sun.

[@briangressel8342]

Social security is not an entitlement. If we weren't obligated by law to pay into it and instead put the money into a 401k at the maximum contribution, the yield would be 4 times as much money. Our government is the problem.

[@annabellelee4535]

Entitlement is supposed only be a program that is paid by the recipients with gov't promising to pay back in the future. Entitled means a legal right to that money.

[@adoe2305]

It's a ponzi scheme

[@adoe2305]

​@@annabellelee4535until the government decides its not your legal right. Why do i get the feeling I'm not going to see a dime of the SS I'm paying into...

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

@@adoe2305 Started the forced payment in the mid 1960s and had the same fear. However the real fear, is at very best, that dime will barely be worth 1 penny by the time you retire. You will, like I have by the threat of brute force by government, be taxed for dollars worth WAY MORE when your working than when you need them on a fixed income. This is DELIBERATE theft and every politician know it and they don't care as long as we support their royalty like life style. Time to make our SERVANTS live like SERVANTS.

[@annabellelee4535]

@@adoe2305 You get that feeling because the US is in free fall and will faceplant soon due to massive debt and millions of people crossing the border to be taken care of by the gov't at the expense of the American people. As long as the US has a functioning and honest Supreme Court, as we have today, Social Security and Medicare will stand.

[@Gandoff2000]

A decrease in expansion is called a cut. "Instead of increasing spending 9 percent we are increasing spending only 7 percent. We made a fantastic spending cut." Face palm!

[@Deontjie]

?

[@jamescalifornia2964]

People go back to work after being paid to stay home = " NEW jobs" ... 🙄

[@Thane36425]

They've been doing it since at least the 1990s. All that money that was supposed to be saved by closing bases was just spent elsewhere as well.

[@carlt6932]

Girl Math

[@314jph]

Been doing that since the 1980s when Reagan was trying to cut entitlement spending. And the media were largely to blame then too.

[@jusadude7162]

The more I learn about our corrupt government the more I hate government.

[@kevinwilliams6889]

Does anyone actually believe politicians any more?

[@davidhakadoober._1-]

No not on any level left right or center

[@Uvoted4this]

What do you mean ANY MORE. I never trusted them from the start.

[@bobthemagicmoose]

Politicians don’t believe themselves… they know exactly what they’re doing.

[@chrism9037]

Not one bit

[@anthonyheying5350]

Hell to the NO!

[@michaelmcfeely6588]

A dollar paid in taxes is a dollar down the drain.

[@AnnSisuLiv]

No, a dollar paid in taxes is $3 down the drain.

[@LostinTimeYT]

Even worse, it's funding a covert undeclared unrestricted war by the defense industrial complex and central bankers against you, your family, your community, and your own country.

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

@@AnnSisuLiv True as our government has mismanaged our money so poorly, the taxes we pay each year are not even covering the interest for the $33 TRILLION in debt which is mainly held by the very country who made trillions off their germ warfare.

[@georgeappleby6868]

Trying to get Congress to really cut spending is like trying to get a pig to slaughter itself.

[@jimwerther]

Blaming politicians is utter foolishness. AS THIS VIDEO NOTED, any politician who cuts programs will be voted out pronto. BLAME THE VOTERS.

[@chriso3462]

All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others

[@meekmeads]

With all the sht going on, the pig might actually do it 😂😂😂😂

[@amarissimus29]

More like unslaughter itself. Much closer analogy.

[@AmritLCG]

John Stossel should run for congress! Next Ron Paul!

[@usernameisusername]

Stossel for president 2024. Please run. Mike rowe vp

[@kris4786]

My economics professor in college 20 years ago said balancing the Federal budget is easy. He said "You have to hire an accountant not a politician and it will get done."

[@neilreynolds3858]

They don't hire accountants, they buy them.

[@juliestanfield8433]

Yes but, would not hire one to show the true audits. Look up the history of BIS and Charles Ponzi( in 20's-30's)which led to U.S government sell the bonds ever since 1917. The hedge funders like JP Morgans, others created out of it and moved to new ones, leave U.S to stranglement. Borrow and spending at the same time it will lead to US into a third world. Maneco64 explained it the government bonds, and the federal budgets. Between U.S and U,K Politicians are the rubberstamps for big bankers and their international settlements. Politicians are the puppets for the bankers and others.

[@yadusolparterre]

There's an even easier way. As long as we're in a deficit, politicians cannot get reelected. Problem will be solved in 2 weeks

[@johnhigdon9745]

I would say that our runaway budget mismanagement is far more serious than "Global Warming"...which happens to be one of the worst bogus budget escalations

[@adoe2305]

Couldn't agree more. I would also say it's more important than Russian aggression. Our economy will collapse long before Russia even considers attacking the U.S.

[@TheFoolintherainn]

It's actually your department of education, Social services, family courts that do the most damage. There really are not a bunch of drug-addicted hors raising kids in this country, Americans are actually pretty good parents, that's why they're importing problems from over the border. They need to find more cases, they've lowered the abuse criteria to include hurting children's feelings. If you yell at your kid to go brush their teeth before they hop on the school bus, and they tell the teacher? They're writing up a case file on you. liberals know how to get your money-beaten puppies and babies get idiots with more tax dollars than sense to open their wallets And nobody bothers to audit those cases Massachusetts makes up to a quarter-million dollars per year per child they steal. They're very well-versed at it, they have a well-run machine literally a mill, they literally use an Old Mill building, they put these children and parents through That's where Social security funding is going-judges pensions and gold standard healthcare benefits, social workers, lawyers, family courts That's the liberal joke on The u.s.a.-they're pointing every place in the world so you don't pay attention to your own front yards, your own local school board does massive damage to your own children They decide your school and property taxes They're the ones taking away children, destroying families in the USA And they have indoctrinated our children into this global warming garbage. It's very effective-liberals know exactly where white boys don't give a shytt -families & scaring the crap out of kids and that's how they cash in! Taking the avenues they already know you don't care about. You go along with the Kool-Aid, right before budgets come up they put out some poor single mom who overdosed in a parking lot with kids in the car-1 in billions. Females don't want welfare and subsidized housing. They're educated now... But that's how they cash in Now States like Maine are kicking disabled and US citizen out of subsidized housing making way for refugees. Why? Because they get more federal funds for housing refugees than American citizens! That would be decisions made at your state and local levels The federal government is dangling a bigger carrot for states to house immigrants and refugees, then American citizens... Your grandma's getting kicked out of elderly housing so Muslim refugees can live there. Find out how that's happening because that is state level politics The majority of the pain in your lives comes from local and state politics. They decide everything from building codes to what insurance companies are allowed in your state and what they can charge If your child has asthma, I State automatically takes over their health plan-the government is in charge of your child's health and you have to feed that kid whatever poison pill they decide There's so much going on right under your own noses in your own front yards. That's why these types of videos and political pundits are useless high for their here only to sell books and make money iPhone because none of them offer you a solution and your own communities-and it's sitting right there Nobody challenges their school board or child & family services? So that's how they funnel the most money, where you're not looking and you don't care about The global warming issue is coming out of china-they're sucking up all the global environmental fund building infrastructure project putting small countries and massive debt so they can take over their resources They did this in West Africa, using green funds to build a hydroelectric plant, then they held that hydroelectric plant hostage until they got control over the country's mineral rights They did something very clever during the pandemic when no one was looking-China has been putting Ecuador in debt since the 80s or before. And every time Ecuador gets into trouble and borrows more money, they end up borrowing from a Chinese Bank... Putting them further in debt November 2019, China just cleared solvency on the Ecuadorian government, in the very first thing they did was dismantled the healthcare system and send over 200 Cuban doctors back home They knew damn well what was going on with this pandemic back in November 2019, even before. During that pandemic, China a communist country, atr Ecuador, a socialist one... They now control the second largest oil reserves in South America In addition to part of the Amazon tributary And China owns Galapagos now But you were busy looking over there, arguing about masks? They were busy destroying small countries during the pandemic. Why don't you know about this?

[@kathyhayes5578]

@@adoe2305 that's probably what they are counting on!

[@tmayberry7559]

And when our economy collapses the whole country will be for sale at bargain-basement prices

[@adoe2305]

@@kathyhayes5578 Russia is currently encouraging and facilitating mass immigration into our countries to destabilize our economies

[@FluidFocus]

It goes further than this. Declaring an "emergency" seems to be justification to violate people's constitutional rights in New Mexico too.

[@gstowers6718]

Or what the governors did during Covid, declaring "emergency executive powers" to keep the government money flowing (i.e. Illinois' Pritzker)

[@Mobus_]

At this point, I'd prefer the crisis. It's the only way to end the spending.

[@0my]

"the crisis" lol

[@TheFoolintherainn]

Unfortunately, you're right. And if anyone here doesn't know what "the crisis" means, I'm guessing they were born after 1995, don't have a passport, and are educated/indoctrinated by the public school system They will learn the hard way. And their suffering will supersede all others who have suffered. 🙄

[@chrissingletary2876]

I don't think you will want what is ahead... it will be a terrible deal when the USA falls. I will bring the rest of the world with it.

[@richardclifton4120]

@@TheFoolintherainn This government will literally tax you *after death* the way the spending is going now.

[@eralddavid6892]

​@@TheFoolintherainnSerious question, if we know that Social Security and Medicare will blows up in the near future, how to position ourselves and avoid the blast radius? I'm from 3rd world country and based on my experience, you folks in US are too powerful so even small recession in yours can be devastating for us.

[@DrProgNerd]

If they can't 'find' the money to pay the bills without going into debt - or 'printing money' - then they are admitting to being bad at their jobs - and need to make way for someone who can do the job. Every single-family-household understands 'reduce spending and keep debt to a minimum'. 'Blaming the other guy' won't fly. Calling it 'an emergency' won't fly. Going into debt 'to save the children' won't fly. You're either effective at your job - or you are not. They are not. Time to go.

[@LokarofWS]

I'm glad I'm old! I'll be dead before this government turns everything into crap.

[@francisjo3]

John Stossel: a living legend and a hero of journalism

[@philhardwick100]

They use the term emergency to give themselves power that they don’t legally possess. Perfect case…NM governor suspending the second amendment.

[@steveschultz300]

It's gotten to the point that I look forward to the government shutting down.

[@bobby-ov9qn]

Seems to work just fine when the government, by and large, is shut down on weekends, . . . not to mention three day weekends for holidays.

[@0my]

The fed gov might shut down. Oh no said no one ever

[@mauganra2589]

This is what happens when we don’t hold these politicians accountable. We’ve become a country of apathetic cowards.

[@Pamela-pg8hj]

KZbin having a ‘morality’ clause is laughable!

[@0my]

Fascist big tech will determine your morality

[@Ntmoffi]

"Emergency salaries" 😂 Our government is outta control.

[@memyselfeyetallent7149]

It's not more spending, it's more taxes for everyone. Great job reporting John!!

[@andrewplatt7076]

the national debt number recently just passed the number of seconds in a million years...

[@thirdplanet4471]

Meesa propose that the senate give immediately emergency powers to the supreme chancellor

[@PeteQuad]

Lol too funny

[@spocko2181]

At this point having jar jar in power would be an improvement.

[@1973superdad]

Give it the Elon Musk cut, fire 75% forever

[@rc3754]

Apparently he ruined Twitter by doing that, now Twitter bots are out control. Leave Musk out of anything of importance. He's an incredibly overrated business person.

[@stephenshelton4267]

Who do we blame, the politicians or the stupid voters who fall for the fear mongering?

[@bradhaines3142]

yes. sheep and liars are equally bad for the world

[@rc3754]

Such a tried and simplistic argument - 'blame the voters' - I'm not even going to waste my time on it.

[@alexipestov7002]

@@rc3754 And what's wrong with it? Voters vote of these liars time, and time, and time and time again! And yet they don't wise up despite the warning cries of everyone else. Unless your argument is "Uniparty" there really is no other argument.

[@anthonylopez5]

@@rc3754they’re the ones who put them in office, but hey have fun dying on the hill of defending morons who don’t actually keep up with politics, just check off names that the media tells them to

[@chivomartinez]

Both

[@puddintame7794]

Our government's debt is like farming at the foot of mount Vesuvius. The land is fertile, the rain is plentiful and the air warm... until the pyroclastic flow obliterates it all.

[@aaronfox5559]

You’re an odd duck

[@pkendlers]

China just dumped our treasuries, btw...

[@Nate_P]

This is spot on. Beware when the govt "creates" emergencies, for this purpose.

[@user-mq4vo3mk1s]

How many rational financial advisors would tell their clients to max out credit cards, make minimum payments, then increase the credit limit. Sad that so many people fall into the trap of the sky is falling.

[@neilreynolds3858]

Everybody at the Fed and Treasury would give you advice like that.

[@user-mq4vo3mk1s]

@@neilreynolds3858 Funny because the US Treasury turns a profit by selling gold and silver bullion coins and precious metal coins.

[@ludwigvonmises2491]

John, it's also about the Cantillon effect.- transferring of wealth to the elite and cronies.

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

Absolutely! Notice our elite SERVANTS are not eating Hamburger Helper or flying coach or driving a 10 year old gas powered car.

[@0my]

Yes but if you look behind the curtains, the elite don't actually need the money, they already have unlimited money (their wealth was secured before the US dollar existed), they just need the citizens to have less freedom and power

[@KM-zu9we]

I’ve argued that ssn should have been privatized as well as voluntary. I’m sick of the argument about what if someone works at a place that doesn’t have a retirement system…. It’s called a 401k, IRA, etc. in other words personal responsibility. Instead we are FORCED to pay into ssn and then watch as people that never paid into it get benefits. Anytime the gov has control of our money it WILL be abused.

[@hellqba]

Romina run for office. I will support/vote for you!!!

[@zaneelliot6963]

The politicians must be held accountable for their theft of taxpayer money

[@chaist94]

Americans are too timid now to do anything about it. They are all sheep being driven to slaughter.

[@franleck]

I have lost count how many times our small town council has declared an "emergency" to get things passed.

[@flynomo]

I just did my bi-monthly budget for next month. I’m not in debt…..because I live by the budget. Period.

[@plumtiger1]

It is a disaster John. Our money and savings are worth so much less!

[@0my]

It's a war on the middle class. Has been for decades

[@sassafras8677]

ya about half

[@sa3270]

At this point why do they even try to make excuses for their spending and not say "because we want to bankrupt you".

[@adoe2305]

To be fair. Democrats do admit they're trying to destroy America.

[@neilreynolds3858]

They only want to bankrupt the middle class. They're fine with a two tier economic system with rulers and peasants.

[@stevenscott2136]

Most of them don't. They want to enrich themselves, not bankrupt us. It's like a traffic jam -- nobody WANTS a traffic jam, but everyone wants to leave work at the same time and get home soon. And so they keep trying to BEAT the traffic, which is precisely what CAUSES the traffic.

[@Recovering_Californian]

We the people are at fault. We don't hold our representatives accountable. We vote the same people back into office time and time again.

[@neilreynolds3858]

As long as we get our cut of the loot, we're fine.

[@grapicusdrinktus]

28. I worked within this system since 14 and the first time I came out ahead in 2019 I got shoved back into the hole and told to know my place for wanting a better future. Let it all rot.

[@Gen-Z-Republican]

$33 Trillion USD is not a joke, but the politicians dare to sacrificing the future generation with this massive debt burden

[@POLOLOUS3]

Only strategy to decrease inflation the quickest is to enact real spending cuts. That’s the last thing the government would do.

[@jasonbfhfj8132]

By cutting off corrupt heads?

[@RussCR5187]

Spending is not the biggest problem that arises out of "emergencies". They are also used to suspend the Constitution and concentrate all power into the executive branch. As illustrated during the pandemic.

[@PurpleHazeVanNederlands]

The Weimar Republic, Roman Empire, USSR, all fell from spending.

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

What you described is EXACTLY the Cloward and Piven Strategy to collapse the system and suspend our Constitutional protections from and out of control government. Cloward and Piven has been put on steroids by the Marxist democrats ever since obama got away with proclaiming his hatred for our Constitution because, in his own words: "The constitution limits government".

[@macethorns1168]

If you mean after Biden took office then yes.

[@alwaysfreedom9354]

And FDR's Great Depression.

[@septembersurprise5178]

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." - Mark Twain

[@trombone79]

It's all a joke. Both parties spend like drunken sailors.

[@OmegaTou]

It's already too late, John. The debt snowball is too big to stop.

[@clydedenby1436]

When everything is an emergency, nothing is.

[@jcarlovitch]

Wow I'm glad i found this clip. It is the first discussion I heard in 15 years that was not about race.

[@lorendjones]

When the rubber band does break, it’s going to be catastrophic for America. Our “leaders” in Washington are just whistling past the graveyard.

[@Vladviking]

The only thing GOV can do well, Spend money. Although what they spend it on is usually a fail.

[@955miro]

Yes, they are fantastic at spending everyone else's money!

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

There are only 3 tools known to politicians: TAX and SPEND and regulate anything else.

[@955miro]

@@mikewurlitzer5217 the politicians toolbox: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. If it stops moving, subsidize it.

[@neilreynolds3858]

They're very good at stealing money from you. Try not giving them their share and see how much trouble you're in.

[@jeffreymarshall4572]

We’re projected to have over $50T of debt by just the end of the decade. $50T x 5% = $2.5T/year in interest alone. And that doesn’t even address the $200T shortfall in Soc Sec and Medicare. This doesn’t end well.

[@HyperspaceHoliday]

You're right, except medicare and social security are not really debts. They can be easily cancelled by legislation. And those amounts are cumulative over 75 years and doesn't factor in the next 75 years of taxes that the government will collect

[@mikeerickson2412]

Vote every one of them out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And then take away their pensions and benefits

[@jeffreymarshall4572]

There’s really only three end game scenarios and two of the options will never happen: 1) significant austerity and 2) general default. That leaves 3) hyperinflation since we have a money printer of last resort. This is gonna be far, far worse than the Great Depression.

[@bhough410]

If I recall the "justification" for adjusting from precious metals as currency to silver backed notes, then US dollars was supposedly because it's more "convenient" to carry paper money than coins. At this point (9/20/23) it would be more convenient to carry around gold or even silver than dollars. I.e. - a half oz of gold (coin a bit smaller than a half dollar) is just shy of $1000...a coin seems more convenient to carry around than 10 -$100 bills, much more so if it's smaller denominations. Fun fact, the US stopped making pennies out of copper in 1982 (after an 80 year run) because a pennies metal content was valued higher than it's face value. In the 40 years since the penny was mostly copper it's value just in copper is quickly approaching 5 cents.

[@dewfall56]

@@bhough410 I had also heard that coins made of softer metals, like gold, are no longer used for transactions because they tend to wear off some of their mass when in circulation, making them worth less. And that lost gold can scarcely be recovered.

[@caribbeanbound8357]

a gold backed currency fixed that issue until they decided to leave the gold standard@@dewfall56

[@CF542]

I was watching and old Johnny Carson segment where the then Governor of California, Ronald Reagan, was deeply concerned about the federal debt reaching around 58 Billion dollars. This was in the mid 1970's. Less than 50 years later, we've blown past 32 trillion?

[@bhough410]

It's amazing how many self proclaimed "conservatives" overlook the % the debt increased under the Reagan admin.

[@mrjack8849]

I got a job in state government at the age of 35. What used to be nice benefit in a pension plan, I now become more worried everyday that pension fund will be cut or the retirement age rise before I get to it.

[@johnmeckel2319]

Don't Forget that Now, Thanks to Beijing Joe Biden, State and Federal Government Retirement Benefits are Invested Heavily in Chinese (CCP) Investments! It's Unconscionable That they are Investing Your Retirement Benefits in Foreign Country Ventures.

[@bhough410]

Don't worry, those in charge of the money won't vote to cut their own pay or benefits.

[@dicktillotson1431]

Don't worry, the rest of us will keep eating beans and rice so you government workers can have your dream retirement!!

[@Jimbo77696--]

It's why the Government probably won't shut down.

[@paulkuzia9236]

We move closer to the iceberg everyday!

[@shaymanking]

John Stossell has been one of the few legit investigative journalists who have been around for decades. Keep up the good work. I don’t believe that you get the recognition that you deserve.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Things will never change until we have term limits for all politicians. Like that will ever happen….😂

[@adoe2305]

What, are you a Democrat? Instead of crying for the government to save you with regulation for who you can and can't vote for, just vote for somebody else.

[@mikewurlitzer5217]

How often have you voted in the Primary elections to stop your party [Dem or GOP] from running the same candidate who has already served 2 or more terms? We have the foundation for term limits but for some insane reason we are expecting politicians to vote to put themselves out of office after 2 terms. Would you tell your boss to fire you after 8 or 12 years?

[@milkygodric539]

@@mikewurlitzer5217 Term limits are a hilariously bad idea also. I mean You are would be taking voter choice away by enacting it. That means Rand Paul and Thomas Massie would be out and then as the candidate list gets smaller and more obscure, just a name on a sheet of paper it becomes impossible to know peoples real positions, how could you tell if someone is corrupt? They would get payed by special interests still it would just be harder to see who is good and bad because when you get someone good they are out after their term and the hundreds of bad people are waiting in line. Term limits are truly a stupid idea. Something a slave would think up. The issue is the voter not the people elected. It's insane to think otherwise.

[@inkermoy]

@@mikewurlitzer5217 Working in Congress should be considered more like a civic duty rather than a job. Maybe if there was some way to make serving in Congress more like Jury Duty, more people would eventually become informed on the waste and corruption in Washington. But that would probably turn out something like the Anarcho-Syndicalist Commune the peasants had at the beginning of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

@@mikewurlitzer5217 I only vote for policy don’t care what party…

[@oldschool9932]

Word of the century, "UNSUSTAINABLE".

[@VulgarRage]

Politicians “I need money in my pocket” emergency spending

[@droptozro]

They won't cut anything---our country would rather run into a brick wall than admit we need to cut back for about 50 years and fix our financial issues. We built this system and we're paying for it now.

[@JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

Exactly!

[@RonHelton]

I didn't build anything of this mafia government.

[@Lue1337]

No, they built it, we are nothing but slaves.

[@runswithraptors]

@@Lue1337 isn't that what slaves do, work and build things?

[@babuvangu7220]

​@@runswithraptors Yeah,but for the gain of others.

[@wendyleslie6461]

While an independent commission is a potentially good idea, having term limits for member of Congress would solve this issue also. If they are so consumed with the fear of doing the right thing will hurt their chances of being reelected, then remove the ability to get reelected. This would also solve the other issues such as "career politicians" who go into politics to get rich.

[@Necrosphereical]

I agree somewhat, but you also create a situation where you have people who get in to get rich and then they are out and don't have to worry about it burning behind them. It is solvable, but sadly a lot of these are rather delicate and complex systems that we would have to setup. The 'right' solution of course, would be elegant and simple. Hopefully we can figure it out. Maybe on the next time around.

[@halason1]

they will be bought and sold in weeks.

[@uncaboat2399]

We've had term limits for legislators and other elected officials in California for some time now. As should be obvious, it hasn't really helped.

[@alanm.4298]

In fact, term limits here in California have made matters worse. Because of term limits... There is always a large freshman class of representatives.... rookies learning how things work, making mistakes or easily influenced. The newbie going to Sacramento for the 1st time is greeted by a permanent, highly experienced lobbying group with offers to help them find their way. More and more legislation is written by lobbyists with little or no input from our elected representatives. If the lobbyist fails to get a favorable bill through in one session, they simply wait and get a new, inexperienced sponsor in the next session. Lobbyist influence and power has increased significantly, thanks to term limits. A previous response is also true.... term limits reduce accountability. It's "seagull governance." They swoop into office, gobble up all the can and $#!+ all over the place, the fly away without a care in the world. There's also the "revolving door" between government and business, which term limits would exacerbate. When they left their government positions, 9 out of 10 of the most recent FDA commissioners took executive level jobs with the pharmaceutical companies the FDA is charged with regulating. On the other hand, it certainly is a problem when a representative or senator is in office too long, loses touch with their constituency, or even with reality itself!

[@PreferredCustomer]

If the elected representatives just let lobbyists write legislation for them, the problem is with the people running. But if term limits don't work, then what do you suggest?

[@lubu4u312]

We must all give up as much as we can so the very few can keep what they have.

[@divemonkeys]

This is nothing new, back in the 90s when Governor Kitzhaber was screaming about budget cuts and how we needed more spending the Oregon budget doubled in 10 years. To government a budget cut is not getting their double digit budget increase.

[@alchobum]

You can see the damage in higher taxes and a higher cost of living relative to wages as the government has to slurp up more money to cover interest payments. At some point, it will reach a point of no return where there is no room to cover the costs from taxes. When they start borrowing to make the interest, game over.

[@RogerMiller-td5yc]

A truly evil plan.

[@majermike]

well the govt is already borrowing to make the interest and has been for a long time. I don't think there will be a sudden game over or a snapping rubber band because the federal govt can always print money to avoid insolvency. instead the result will be gradual inflation, and gradual elimination of the middle class, imo.

[@codebloke2200]

Federal interest on debt is now the 4th largest government spending at 703 Billion dollars a year. Within a year or two it will surpass the entire defense budget that currently stands at 794 Billion. We have officially entered a state of no return without severe austerity.

[@neilreynolds3858]

They're already borrowing to pay the interest but it's going to get much worse since they drove up inflation and have to borrow at higher rates. It becomes an inflationary spiral with no way out. That's why countries who still have some sense are abandoning us for BRICS.

[@bhough410]

We're already there...interest will soon pass military as the 3rd largest federal budget item.

[@kurts3328]

I think we need to either take the checkbook away from the children or dock their pay weekly for no balanced budget with no money allocated for debt pay down.

[@morganoox3838]

Like hell im going to pay back the money these criminals spend on my behalf.

[@jackieeastom8758]

Treason is a serious crime

[@spocko2181]

When the traitors are in charge it isn’t treason.

[@mlb6d9]

That's the MO for everything nowadays. Ever since 9/11, policies have been implemented for our 'safety' Now they just add 'Emergency' into the mix for new shock value

[@johnmeckel2319]

The Safety and Welfare of it's Subjects, Has Always Been The Alibi of Tyrants!

[@Hellfr4g]

emergency salaries hahaha somehow they didn´t see that coming

[@thatguyrich9822]

We ought to have "emergency" removals from office.

[@twilightalfa8852]

I've tried to say this sort of thing for years and I get blown off or ignored

[@andymarion]

The way I see this recession most likely has an external cause. The United States is losing influence as a federal currency for the first time in decades. They don’t have any economies to utilize or control their inflation, and less money is being spent on stock and oil trading than previously. They all lend credence to the hypothesis that a new multilateral world order may be in the works.

[@Agatha207]

But the professionals are still crushing it right now because they have both the necessary approach to pull off a profit in the market, plus access to insider market knowledge that isn’t made publicly..

[@-Fredrick]

That’s true! To succeed the financial market, you must review and put into consideration the dynamics of your trading assets prior investing. Analysis based on research is vital which is why I recommend trading with a professional if you don’t know the basics.

[@christianaemilio1]

Exactly why i enjoy market decisions being guided by a professional, seeing that their entire skillset is built around going long and short at the same time both employing risk management and market experience. Been using the expertise and guidance of John Desmond Heppolette, for over 5years+ and I've netted over $3million in that time frame..

[@angelicstennett]

I curiously made a google research of his full names after reading what you shared, I came across his web-page on-line. My portfolio suffered a big hit, holding it further won’t be any good. I’ve heard of people netting hundreds of thousands this red season I’m really glad to see this…

[@Alejandro.N]

I've been making more than seven figures passively investing with John Desmond Heppolette, who showed me the right community to join and grow mv finances and I don't have to do much work. It doesn't matter if the world economy is crashing, I will always make decent returns.

[@timpatrick2109]

I wouldn’t mind a lot of the frivolous spending if it wasn’t for the massive entitlement programs. Welfare, food stamps and the like, creating a huge voting underclass who will vote these politicians back in year after year with no accountability as long as they get the freebies. Many things wrong with the system other than just over spending. Not everyone should be allowed to vote.

[@jercasgav]

It's true, why should people that get entitlements be able to vote for more entitlements? It is like two wolves and a sheep voting on what to eat for dinner...they can vote to steal other's money. They are no good thieves.

[@macethorns1168]

Facts.

[@TheFoolintherainn]

No that's exactly what they want - be careful what you wish for Yet perhaps you'd better find out where all these entitlement funds actually end up-government is in cahoots with grocery stores, food production, medical... Million$ in food bought by EBT cards ends up overseas. We know all about it. But your mainstream media isn't telling you because they're in bed with this crowd I worked in both law and Social services-they're forcing people into entitlement programs by threat of taking their kids. It happens every day and it's very effective because you turn around and call them drug-addicted hores that beat their kids You're carrying out the agenda for them! The US government is very much like the African governments we knew back in the 60s and 70s. We lugged around those UNICEF boxes because we didn't want anyone starving in this world the first infomercials we saw we're starving African kids and yes, those got to us and we did care Kids literally wanted to send their dinner to Africa, it wasn't a joke. We didn't have a lot of TV, and we didn't have infomercials So we made it a point to lug those UNICEF boxes around on Halloween, put our own Penney's in there cuz we actually gave a damn about those starving African kids Then a decade or more later we found out what happened to our UNICEF pennies African governments were deliberately keeping a poor population of people to keep collecting that humanitarian aid. They used about 7-10% of the funding for food and medical, pocketing 90% of the profits their corruption was revealed when we found out 3 weeks before they knew UNICEF and humanitarian aid cameras were coming in, they would stop services to villages to make sure there was trash piled up, poor starving mother sitting outside of medical clinics with flies on sick babies It was a setup to get our money, raid our wallets going through our hearts And that is what the USA has become. Corrupt African warlords So all these people on entitlement programs? I can tell you right now, don't want to be there Females are educated and told the world is at their feet, but the minute they have a baby? They are controlled like you wouldn't believe. Stepford wives is nothing compared to what the US government does to women with children. And the boys went along with it... Yeah, I don't want to pay child support-put my ex-screw and kids on welfare... That's okay with me! There are no protectors are providers in The u.s.a.-that's why they have to have so much welfare and silly amounts of domestic abuse laws. Because boys have to be told. The media is going to pull up the few over entitled people who don't know better-but real people are not going on camera they're embarrassed, humiliated, pounded down by this government, and then you call them over entitled welfare Blows my mind seeing elderly women who have worked their entire lives for FREE, WWII veterans standing in line at grocery stores being humiliated using food stamps It's horrible Christmas shopping around elderly women-it's such an upsetting holiday to them now. And Mother's Day is nothing to celebrate either-so many women estranged from their over entitled brat children left to live in cars in parking lots

[@955miro]

While I agree with your points about entitlements and voting, I still do mind the frivolous spending. If they are taking our money to bribe people to vote for them, or they are taking our money to buy stupid stuff we don’t need, they are still taking more of our money than they should! Every penny they take from us for public use damn well better actually go to a legitimate public need. Otherwise, it is just legalized theft.

[@richardclifton4120]

It isn't entitlement that is breaking the bank, it is wasteful spending on projects and studies that amount to nothing to satisfy some campaign promise that an election contributor wanted for a certain amount of money. It is called cronyism.

[@toddmichael4271]

Leave SSI alone We pay our entire lives while working into it. Stop welfare for lazy people and government handouts for every single college and businesses that ask.

[@lisamoeser5247]

Still kicking the can down the road. All foreign aid should be suspended immediately.

[@analyticalmind4493]

This isn't just about wanting to be reelected. This is a direct result of the representatives and senators being ancient. Long-term sacrifices are not something a person already at retirement age is willing to make. They have totally different priorities. The decisions need to be made by younger people who will be around for the consequences.

[@jim9930]

@analyticalmind4493 It's already too late. Judgement day on the world began May 21, 2011 { you were warned } The biblical calendar of history has been known, published, and carefully studied for half a century. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh; Pr 1; 24 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3;7 Time has an end. Fear, and the pit, and the snare are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. Isaiah 24;17 READ THE BOOK ! ...you might understand why the basest of men are ruling worldwide and when the 'last day' is.

[@mushyroom9569]

What’s forcing younger people to stay and face the consequences? Especially Democrats who usually don’t have children and openly hate the country.

[@analyticalmind4493]

@@mushyroom9569 It's not a guarantee, but you have a much better chance with a younger, not even like actually young, just younger person. People need to be unforgiving when it comes to policians. If they aren't doing what they said they would do, kick them out and elect another person who will. They represent us. If they stop doing that, impeach and remove.

[@mushyroom9569]

@@analyticalmind4493 Impeachment is something that politicians do to other politicians. As a citizen and conservative, the only thing I can do is vote for someone who openly doesn’t care about fiscal responsibility and limiting government spending instead of the guy who only pretends to care.

[@analyticalmind4493]

@@mushyroom9569 Correct, the way to do this is to apply pressure to your representatives and senators. If they don't oust the crook, they are getting voted out next. Defending the corrupt individuals needs to be the 3rd rail for them. Touch it, and you are out for good. Good luck in the private sector after everyone knows your character.

[@FourthRoot]

"Draconian cuts" 😂 is that like Orwellian freedom?

[@0my]

He's highly regarded. Seriously, "draconian cuts" to government spending. I do not think that word means what you think that it means. Lol

[@FourthRoot]

@@0my It's like when statists ask, "Well, what gives you the right to impose libertarianism on anyone?"

[@williamsloan4283]

Is there no accountability? Who gives permission to spend our money? There should be backlash at a local level and get the gov "elected" officials out.

[@Space.Ghost.]

Time to boycott working. No more tax dollars for reckless spenders.

[@dutchflats]

Let's be frank, the biggest part of the problem with spending is the public's expectations, which are based on the lies politicians have used over the decades to foster their jobs, where we expect entitlements to be funded without limits and that taxes should not be raised so as to have a responsible budgeting process.

[@markingli169]

i used to really care about all of this, but now with crossing 33 trillion mark and looking at nearly 195 trillion in unfunded liability's! there is no paying down the debt! just imagine what the interest on the debt will cost with current rates! from here on out im going to enjoy life and time with friend's and family as much as posable , because there is no fix to this without major suffering for all of us! and no politician is going to fix it no matter how many lies they tell! peace and best wishes to all!

[@neilreynolds3858]

That seems to be the only solution. Take care of your friends and family and try to find some place that won't be overwhelmed when the system comes crashing down.

[@stevenscott2136]

That's the wise attitude toward everything. After all, you are going to die no matter how prosperous your nation is. So are all your family and friends. There was NEVER a "win" available in life.

[@raymiller3965]

In 2010, The National Commission for Fiscal Responsibility and Reform presented a document entitled “The Moment of Truth”. Unfortunately, Obama and other politicians didn’t like the recommendations.

[@ExtraMedium-]

It’s not just spending. There were “emergency” mandates and lockdowns, and now NM is trying out “emergency” gun bans.

[@pup5330]

"It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." - Henry Ford

[@TwilightKnight347]

The big inherent problem with our government arrangement is that the very people who benefit from the terrible rules we have for spending, taxes, etc. are the very people responsible for changing the rules/laws. The #1 issue for most humans is self-interest and you are not going to convince people to go against their own self-interest. If any change is to occur, the common citizenry has to force it, but unfortunately, we are too busy buying into the radical party-wars to pay attention to what is really going on and doing anything about it.

[@alexandersnow1963]

I’ve been saying this for a while. I see online all the doom articles, and ignorant comments blaming either party. The reality is that it’s all for show. They will always come to a “deal” that they have had in place for weeks.

[@kfbr3922]

Thank God real journalism still exists in America

[@lindaquinn3496]

That is exactly what they do, spend our money anyway they want with no justification. Emergency spending is totally out of control. Our politicians are not acting in the public’s best interest. They all need to go!

[@SandMan-nr9oz]

All on purpose.......SHEEP.

[@jimwerther]

You know whose fault this is? IT'S YOURS!! Not the politicians. If you only voted for people who cut spending, they would cut spending!

[@ExtraMedium-]

“There’s been no disaster except inflation.” That’s disaster enough for me John!

[@richardchambers3533]

They are going to "Historic reductions in spending " us straight to the poorhouse

[@neilreynolds3858]

That's the plan...

[@arinerm1331]

Let's move the declaration of "emergencies" to the judiciary of the appropriate level. If the President wants to declare an emergency, he has to petition the Supreme Court, much as the police have to petition a judge for a search warrant. If a governor wants to declare an emergency, he would have to petition his state's Supreme Court, or any federal court with jurisdiction over the state. **BOTH** parties spend like drunken sailors.

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Not a bad idea. First I've heard it and so obviously havent really thought it theough, but at least there's SOME accountability there instead of unilateral unchecked power.

[@arinerm1331]

@@MattH-wg7ou "No unilateral power" is the exact point. The Founders did their best to avoid it, and the Constitution should not tolerate it. We do not have a King, nor is any state ruled by a Lord. (I'm looking at NM with that comment in the current moment.)

[@NoelFallstrom]

I like the idea as long as there is clear wording over what types of things could constitute an emergency. Of all the emergencies that have been declared in my lifetime, few to none should have qualified. An emergency should fit some specified criteria AND be approved by the courts. If there is an actual emergency, people generally react on their own accord without additional government powers to coerce them. So even if emergency powers are never granted, we'd likely be better off. The problem we have now is that the government has lost all credibility so there will be a large segment of the population that won't believe any "facts" they provide, even when those facts might be true.

[@TwilightKnight347]

Don't believe for one moment that the SCOTUS isn't driven by political ideology like any other government entity. They are not a magic solution. We, the average voter, have to force things like balanced budget amendments at all levels of government, reduction/elimination of "emergency" spending loopholes, and especially a reduction/elimination of the use of executive orders to circumvent the lawmaking process.

[@kudjo24]

What goes up, must come down.

[@Leonardokite]

PLUS, if you don't spend that budget then the next year you cannot increase your budget. Thus if you have surplus you must spend it even if that means totally wasting it.