Roger C. Altman and Richard N. Haass argue that if U.S. leaders do not rein in government debt, global financial markets will ultimately force a solution. The result would be an age of American austerity that shrinks America's global role and leads to a less safe and less free world.A topic which was once the exclusive terrain of goldbugs and small government types is now being discussed openly by the power elite. What gives?
CFR Co-Chairman Robert E. Rubin writes that if we don't make tough decisions on deficit reduction now, we will be forced to act more harshly and with less time to thoughtfully set priorities in the future.
Sebastian Mallaby says that in the State of the Union President Obama was too optimistic that he can achieve new public investments and deficit reduction at the same time. He will have to choose between the two.
Peter R. Orszag warns that it may take a crisis to get U.S. policymakers to address the unsustainability of the federal government's fiscal trajectory.
These are very smart guys. My guess is they know the crisis is coming and they know they can't stop the crisis, so they want to get out in front of it. If they are out with warnings now, they will be in a better position to shape what follows the crisis.
It's not exactly clear what these insiders view as a solution to the crisis, just know that is should not include more bailouts of banks or deadbeat state and local governments. The only real solution is a severe shrinking of government. Rand Paul's proposal is a start. The solution should also include restructuring (read:bankruptcy) at the federal, state and local levels. The crisis will come. The elites aren't trying to get in front of this for any other reason. The only question is: Who will pay for the crisis, "the people", which is probably on the mind of the elites, or those that have supported the reckless regime spending by buying this government debt in the first place?
I admire Paul Rand, but for goodness sake: We are insolvent, bankruptcy is the solution.
ReplyDeleteCuts are 35 years too late and 128 trillion short.
By the time they figure it out - we'll be in a forced BK not a planned BK.
The solution will be a 20% national VAT tax...They will never stop stealing until we are all starved to death or are rioting and watching those political terrorists jet off to nowhere trying to save their lives. A parasite never stops until the host is dead.
ReplyDeleteWhen you pay a tax you are allowing these political criminals to live...Stop giving your money to these scumbags!
ReplyDeleteprepare for the lords return !!!!! the new world order is here get ready for major events in this world starting this year (2011).
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