Conquering deficits and debt impossible before 2020...

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Monday December 13, 2010 · 12:17 PM PST

2010/12/13 · 12:17

Currently the US is paying about 3.5% in interest on debt. This means that we are paying about $35 billion in annual interest for each $1 trillion in debt. Currently we are at about $14 trillion debt so the annual interest should be around $490 billion. And this $490 billion does not pay down the principle of the debt...this is only the interest on the debt.

BTW; I read something a few days ago that indicated at our current spending rate, that by 2020, the annual interest payment on debt will exceed $1 trillion!

OldManOnFire

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Saturday December 11, 2010 · 1:24 PM PST

2010/12/11 · 13:24

Preface; Is it possible for the 'perfect' presidential candidate to be elected?

For purposes of discussion, let's assume 'perfect' is defined as; attractive, gregarious, very intelligent, humorous, aged 50-something, male or female, 10+ years of Congressional experience, business and industry prowess, foreign affairs experience, excellent orator including impromptu discussions, fiscally responsible, highly regarded reputation, and pulls no punches espousing facts and truths.

Note that I did not specify religious or political party affiliation. You do not get to know this information.

Question; Will you, or a majority of Americans, vote for this candidate?

If your answer is 'no', please explain why?

Is our ignorance standing in the way?

OldManOnFire

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Thursday November 11, 2010 · 10:50 AM PST

2010/11/11 · 10:50

This is a question both for government performance and personal performance.

Regarding government, which is really the management of this nation, it has become impossible to find anything positive! All issues continue to worsen! Deficit spending and debt are literally out of control. Infrastructure is crumbling, SS is nearing failure, Medicare and health care are sucking the nation dry, the education system is a drop-out factory, millions of jobs probably lost forever, increasing imports over exports, an impotent Congress and administration, fraud and greed running rampant, military spending out of control, foreign policy and spending run amok, and we're either in a recession or a protracted depression and it makes no difference which one it is because they're both crappy!

OldManOnFire

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Wednesday November 10, 2010 · 11:15 AM PST

2010/11/10 · 11:15

It seems to me that we have a critical-mass scenario which will prevent our current economic system from sustaining itself. Sure, the economy will grow a little by default, but not enough growth to bring us out of this quasi recession and sustain growth into the future.

Parts of this critical-mass;

High cost of living in the USA.

Continued population growth...about 2 million+ per year.

Current unemployment or underemployment of perhaps 15-25 million Americans.

Lowering personal productivity rate.

Too many unskilled and/or lower-skilled workers.

More and more demands on government at all levels.

Government and private debt at all-time highs.

The dumbing of America with a drop out factory education system.

Federal government appears paralyzed.

OldManOnFire

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Tuesday November 09, 2010 · 11:21 AM PST

2010/11/09 · 11:21

Answer: Increasing the GDP

Generally speaking, each $100K of GDP represents one job position. If GDP is at $14 trillion, then we have approximately 140 million workers.

If you wish to have 150 million workers; simple...just increase the GDP to $15 trillion.

Ten million additional workers equals more tax income at all government levels. If the political idiots can stop their out-of-control spending, more tax income can help balance budgets and pay off debt.

OldManOnFire

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Friday November 05, 2010 · 3:53 PM PDT

2010/11/05 · 15:53

We seem to be a mostly immobile society. In other words, we seldom and reluctantly relocate. Why can't we embrace relocation as the next chapter in our lives?

Perhaps 50 years ago this seemed practical, but in today's society of property development, cost-of-living issues, crime issues, urban issues, cultural issues, demographic issues, economic issues, unemployment issues, etc. I suggest staying in one place, when we have other options, many times necessary and/or beneficial options, it is no longer practical.

OldManOnFire

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Thursday November 04, 2010 · 3:47 PM PDT

2010/11/04 · 15:47

The health care costs today, and in the near future, are simply astronomical in relation to the average person's cash flow. Let's try to put this in some perspective as it relates to US citizens.

It is estimated today's total annual cost of health care is $2.5 trillion.

If we assume 150 million wage earners in the US, the cost is about $16,666 per worker!! If we divide $2.5 trillion by the total population of 307 million, the cost per person is $8,143!

If this is not bad enough...it is estimated that annual health care costs in 2019 will be $4.5 trillion! This comes to $30,000 per worker and $14,500 per citizen! 20%+ of GDP spending in 2019!

OldManOnFire

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Tuesday March 24, 2009 · 3:16 PM PDT

2009/03/24 · 15:16

From a novice's perspective, it seems to me that today's critical mass of consumption and debt started at that general point in time, perhaps in the 1950's, when most people could actually pay cash for a majority of their needs (food, health care, education, entertainment, travel, etc.) and the debt they incurred in buying a typical home via a bank loan might have been 2 to 3 times their annual income (i.e. $4000 annual income buying a house that sold for $10K).

For a few decades now, and certainly applicable today, it is commonplace to see people using credit cards to buy a Starbucks or BigMac! Most people can barely afford crappy foodstuff, almost no one can pay cash for health care, college education averages $10K+ annually, entertainment and travel mostly on credit. Then when average home prices are $225K and average income is $35K, this debt to income ratio is now about 7:1!!

So...most people are deeply in debt.

OldManOnFire

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Thursday October 25, 2007 · 4:54 PM PDT

2007/10/25 · 16:54

As long as we can make preemptive and unprovoked attacks on sovereign nations...

As long as the USA is the world's bully and acts as a rogue nation with no recourse for it's actions...

Global climate changes and oil dependence will remain low priorities.

Terror-based FEAR and the MILITARY will remain high priorities.

We are such an ignorant group of people to allow this...

Rogue nation USA going down in flames...

OldManOnFire

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Wednesday October 24, 2007 · 10:41 AM PDT

2007/10/24 · 10:41

Secretary of State Rice says today; 'Iran is an obstacle to the US vision of the Middle East'.

So...the USA has it's own vision of the entire Middle East, and with bully-tactics and arrogance, the USA will force this vision on approximately 20 sovereign nations, 465 million people of various cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds?

Today the US government is predicting the 'war on terror' will cost about $2.4 trillion dollars! This equals approximately $22,000 for every American household! This almost equals the $2.8 trillion that the USA will spend this year for everything in the budgets!

Insane-Bush was given a blank-check in Iraq and this alone will probably be recorded in history as one of the worst US blunders! Just imagine the impact of attacking Iran and others as the USA arrogantly fulfills it's vision of the Middle East!

If insane-Bush and Darth-Cheney are not stopped in their tracks soon, there might be no stopping the USA going down in flames...

As Iraqis Stand Up...The USA Will Stand Down

OldManOnFire

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Monday October 01, 2007 · 11:56 AM PDT

2007/10/01 · 11:56

It is time to reverse this over-used, politicized, and meaningless sound-bite to:

AS THE USA STANDS DOWN...THE IRAQIS MUST STAND UP!!

Start deployment of 10,000 troops per month beginning in one month! This will require about 15-16 months to remove all troops from Iraq. I would pass a funding bill for the Iraq portion that decreases every month by a factor of 1/15th. Meaning; month one 100% funded for 160,000 troops, month two is ~93.5% funded for 150,000 troops, month three is ~86% funded for 140,000 troops, and so on...

Additionally, all US contractors are given a 90-day notice to cease operations in Iraq. The Iraqi government can open bidding to all nations and manage their rebuilding process within their priorities.

The USA must beg involvement from a 'real' coalition and the UN with absolutely no caveats! Let them get involved in security of the region since they have the most to gain, and let them be involved in any way the Iraqi government allows...period.

And like it or not insane-Bush...the Iraq oil belongs to the Iraqis!!

Remember; Just Say No To Drugs??

OldManOnFire

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Friday September 28, 2007 · 9:57 AM PDT

2007/09/28 · 09:57

Americans visit doctors for a check up and 90%(?) of the time they are given a drug prescription as the remedy.

Americans simply believe what their doctors tell them, they rush to the pharmacy to buy the drugs they see advertised 24/7 on the TV, consume the drugs as defined, and days later feel better (probably the placebo affect), but down the road the same old problem returns. Back to the doctor again, another chat, and this time let's try another type of drug.

What a wonderful cycle...for the doctors and the drug companies!!

I know I am generalizing here but there is a method to my madness...

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Conquering deficits and debt impossible before 2020...

The Perfect Presidential Candidate...

Is our ignorance standing in the way?

Some sort of critical-mass scenario dragging us into the abyss...

Only One Thing Will Solve Unemployment and Government Debt...

Why Are We So Unwilling To Simply Pack Up And Move?

Health Care Costs Are Bankrupting The Nation...

A Fine Mess We've Gotten Ourselves Into...

As long as the USA can KILL for OIL...

Rogue nation USA going down in flames...

As Iraqis Stand Up...The USA Will Stand Down

Remember; Just Say No To Drugs??