VISUAL and STATISTICAL PROOF that SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM, NOT tax revenue !!!

[Will]

Worked on compiling a spreadsheet this afternoon to produce THIS dual chart:





Sources for data provided at the bottom of the image.


FYI the sum of all those hypothetical surpluses from 2000-2010 is ~ $2.7 Trillion dollars, or more than twice the ~$1.3 Trillion we've spent on the "War on Terror" so far, according to the latest congressional CRS report:


The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other
Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11

With enactment of the sixth FY2011 Continuing Resolution through March 18, 2011, (H.J.Res. 48/P.L. 112-6) Congress has approved a total of $1.283 trillion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans’ health care for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan and other counter terror operations; Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), providing enhanced security at military bases; and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf


So not only is tax revenue NOT to blame for our deficits and exploding debt, NEITHER are "Bush's Wars"


FYI, even in the latest budget with a record high amount of defense spending, ALL defense and non-defense discretionary spending comes in at an amount LESS than the amount of individual and corporate income tax revenue and excise, estate, etc. tax revenue collected.


SOCIAL WELFARE SPENDING IS THE PROBLEM. The DEFICIT between Medicare/Social Security and the payroll taxes that fund them, AND our interest expense on our debt, is what is KILLING US.


WE DO NOT NEED TAX INCREASES. "BUSH'S WARS" ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.


WE NEED SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM.

WE NEED MEDICARE REFORM NOW !!!

[VITE1]

Rich are evil because they have money and have to much fun. We need to take from them and give it to all those poor people.

You know the idiots that smoked to much pot in HS and are now brain damaged or the ones that cut classes and never graduated because being smart is not cool Or. The dumb broads that got knocked up or the lazy idiots that can't hold a job because showing up 5 days a week is such a demoralizing effort.

[AC54ME]

Will,

Once again thanks for the charts.

The issue of SS & Medicare/Medicaid is a mine field - made more difficult to transit because if the multiple 'add- ons' (expansion way beyond the original programs intent).

Now, I am not here to defend the original concepts of SS, or Medicare. I think you are aware that I, at 71, have taken not one dime from either, and never shall.

If there was one program that deserved consideration at the time of implementation it would be SS. However, even then it was known that the 'no greater than x %' of gross pay to fund it was not realistic.

Here is a great story; in 1960 I was employed by ATT (long lines, 1st line supervisor). I had a technician working for me that was one of sixteen children, all working at the time.

Both his parents were on SS and the combined SS contributions by all 16 of their children was insufficient to cover the amount of the SS checks to their parents. This was my first time understanding that the issues with SS were not only large, but overwhelming if one considered the average family was not sixteen children, but 2 or 3.

In 1965 I was in VN and through the "Stars and Stripes" news learned of the Medicare program. It held the exact same issues as SS - contributions would not equal expenses at a given point.

Over the year SS and Medicare expanded in coverages, placing even greater strain on the 'given point' of instability.

Today it is apparent that the wealth of the USA (revenues) is unbalanced due to these programs and their adjunct expansion (I.e., SSDI, Medicaid, etc.).

Doing nothing is not an option unless one desires the USA to be a complete welfare state and nothing else (and further it is not realistic).

Addressing this is more important than most all other issues facing the US - IMO.

Unfortunately, it will most likely not be.

I'll not be around to encounter the results - but I can see them, plain as day. Why cannot others?

[ChasC5]

Good Job, nice chart.

I agree, reform has been needed for more than a decade. I'm glad we are finally doing something rather than nothing.

[Will]

[RetiredSFC 97]

Anyone who doesn't believe spending is the problem has their head planted firmly up their ass!

But hey, if they want free shit, tax the other 48% and they could possibly pay for it.

i'm tired of listening to people who have worked demonized while I NEVER hear anyone of the elites ask about those who pay nothing. Pay nothing and even get back more than they pay in.

You can't talk about a fair taxation system when only half of us pay taxes.

[AC54ME]

Originally Posted by retiredsfc 97

anyone who doesn't believe spending is the problem has their head planted firmly up their ass!

but hey, if they want free shit, tax the other 48% and they could possibly pay for it.

I'm tired of listening to people who have worked demonized while i never hear anyone of the elites ask about those who pay nothing. Pay nothing and even get back more than they pay in.

you can't talk about a fair taxation system when only half of us pay taxes.

bingo.

[PortDawg]

Flat Tax....

[Will]

[Will]

Originally Posted by PortDawg

Flat Tax....

Flat Tax Guide done by Heritage way back:


A Brief Guide to the Flat Tax | The Heritage Foundation

[AC54ME]

Will

A couple of additional charts (tax payers %)




[/QUOTE]

[Will]

Also, even though population growth is a factor effecting inflation, I re-did the chart in the OP by adding the population growth % change to the inflation rate.


STILL a net SURPLUS of over $2 TRILLION over the past decade if we had simply SPENT at reasonable levels:

[RetiredSFC 97]

Originally Posted by VITE1

Rich are evil because they have money and have to much fun. We need to take from them and give it to all those poor people.

You know the idiots that smoked to much pot in HS and are now brain damaged or the ones that cut classes and never graduated because being smart is not cool Or. The dumb broads that got knocked up or the lazy idiots that can't hold a job because showing up 5 days a week is such a demoralizing effort.

You just described the people running this country

[Joecooool]

[Joecooool]

[Joecooool]

[Will]

Thanks for useless charts that actually try to claim (1) the Bush cuts COST money, and (2) you could actually quantify how much we gained or lost as a result.


The assumption that economic output and GDP are static regardless of levels of taxation is ABSURD.


The folks at CPBB either aren't too bright or are purposefully LYING

[Joecooool]

Originally Posted by Will

Thanks for useless charts that actually try to claim (1) the Bush cuts COST money, and (2) you could actually quantify how much we gained or lost as a result.


The assumption that economic output and GDP are static regardless of levels of taxation is ABSURD.


The folks at CPBB either aren't too bright or are purposefully LYING

Or you just don't like the data.

[Will]

The 2003 Changes spurred record rates of GROWTH in tax revenue in ACTUALITY during the 4 year 2004-2007 expansion:












The reason? GDP drives revenue.





NOT tax levels:

[Will]

Originally Posted by Joecooool

Or you just don't like the data.

THERE IS NO "DATA" concerning the subject. NO ONE knows what the true effect on GDP of the tax changes was compared to what would have happened otherwise.


Unless of course you're aware of an alternate universe to ours where everything is exactly the same except the Bush tax cuts never happened, and someone from it is somehow communicating with you and telling you the differences in federal revenue.