tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232112655035482837.post1160644694214504535..comments2024-02-11T00:20:16.619-08:00Comments on Robin Chapman News: Go Ahead: Take the Rest of the Year Off!Robin Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10503563386747084298noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232112655035482837.post-36681977141901430492011-04-10T19:52:22.230-07:002011-04-10T19:52:22.230-07:00I hope they do get tough. I think we need a super...I hope they do get tough. I think we need a superior leader before any real improvements can be expected.Robin Chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10503563386747084298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1232112655035482837.post-34108098013916561022011-04-10T19:31:56.931-07:002011-04-10T19:31:56.931-07:00The problem in not only the federal government as ...The problem in not only the federal government as Washington’s dysfunctionality is really just a symptom. The problem lies to a large degree with the U.S. electorate. For quite some time now, the American public has been complaining about how lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have been unable to get anything accomplished. Yet in November 2010, the electorate voted for the 112th U.S. Congress; a Congress that is even more conservative and more liberal than the one before it. As a result, the differences have increased as the political divide has become still greater. Perhaps this is once more proof of the erosion of the center in contemporary U.S. politics. <br /><br />The recent budget agreement is certainly a welcome development…even if six months into the fiscal period. But the actual cuts are really miniscule when compared to the bigger fiscal picture. The agreed $38.5 billion in cuts - however painful - only add up to about 2.9% of the present budget deficit of $1.35 trillion…or 0.27% of the total national debt of $14.3 trillion. By comparison, the national debt currently increases by approximately $4.5 billion each day. Hence, the budget cuts passed the other day are a meager 8.5 days worth of national debt increase. <br /><br />That is not enough; that is not sustainable…and I anticipate that the 2011 budget negotiations will pale compared to what’s ahead for 2012.Skywolfnoreply@blogger.com