Glenn Beck: Reasonable questions for unreasonable times
Posted by ddenkhaus on August 24, 2009
Glenn Beck: Reasonable questions for unreasonable times
August 24, 2009
Am I hateful if I ask: 9 Min Video Click here: U.S. Debt CLOCK
– Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
– We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?
– The stimulus package funneled billions of dollars to ACORN. How does giving billions of dollars to ACORN stimulate the economy?
– If it was so important for congress to pass the stimulus bill before they even had time to read it why has only a fraction of the stimulus money been spent 6 months later?
– Bush said he had to abandon free market principles in order to save them, how exactly does that work?
– Why won’t members of Congress read the bills before they vote on them?
– Why are citizens mocked and laughed at when they ask their congressman to read the bills before they vote on them?
– Was the cash-for-clunkers program meant to save the earth or the economy? Did it accomplish either?
– How did Van Jones, a self-proclaimed communist become a special advisor to the president?
– Did President Obama know of Van Jones’ radical political beliefs when he named him special advisor?
– The Apollo Alliance claimed credit for writing the stimulus bill—why was this group allowed to write any portion of this bill?
– If politicians aren’t writing the bills and aren’t reading the bills, do they have any idea what these 1000 page plus bills actually impose on the American people?
– If the ‘public option’ health care plan is so good why won’t politicians agree to have that as their plan?
– If town hall meetings are intended for the politicians to learn what’s on our mind—why do they spend so much time talking instead of listening?
– Politicians are refusing to attend town hall meetings complaining, without evidence, that they are scripted. Does that mean we shouldn’t come out and vote for you since every campaign stop, baby kiss and speech you give is scripted?
– Why would you want to overwhelm the system?
– Is using the economic crises to rush legislation through congress what Rahm Emanuel meant when he talked about “not letting a crises go to waste”?
– What are the czars paid? What is the budget for their staffs/offices?
This entry was posted on August 24, 2009 at 6:07 pm and is filed under Democratic Party, Economics, Federal Reserve, Free Speech, GDP, Glenn Beck, Health Care, Inflation, Insurance, Issues, Media, Monetary Policy, Money Supply, Obama Administration, Politics, Recession, Regulation, Secular Collectivism, Socialism, Unemployment, Video Clip, YouTube. Tagged: Beck, Czars, Economics, Federal Reserve, Freedom, Freedom of Speech, Glenn Beck, Health Care, Insurance, Monetary Policy, Obama Administration, Stimilus, Tracking, Transparency, Unemployment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Dave Denkhaus's Weblog 
ToBeRight said
Great! I am making progress when any leftist admits I am smarter than they are!
So raise taxes. Okay – assuming that you are one of the 40% of Americans that pay any Federal Income taxes – take a look at your paycheck. Go ahead, look. I just looked at my last paycheck and I am already paying the government about 40% of what I earn. It is my single largest household expense.
But, like a good Marxist, you want more taxes. At least your honest, unlike the President. So, I wonder how much is enough tax to satisfy you, David?
Please provide the evidence – ANY evidence – that we went to war in Iraq because of 9/11. Anything at all? One single sound bite, quote, anything that shows any person (Republican or otherwise) saying something to the effect that we must invade Iraq in retribution for 9/11. Bueller?
If you had read my post, you would have noticed that I specifically said that I didn’t believe you would intimidate anyone into not voting, rather your desire for me not to vote just spoke volumes about your perspective. Please read before replying – it makes you look like a liberal. Oh wait…
That you rail against Republicans for spending too much is good – at least you have some sense. But unfortunately, you seem to be stuck on 2006. In the last 6 months, Barack Obama has spent more than all other presidents COMBINED. The debt ceiling has been raised. CBO projections for the deficit are through the roof – many times over anything Republicans ever even dreamed of.
But seeing how you think even the Republicans spent way too much, I am SURE that you think Obama has been much, much worse. Right?
I’m not sure what to say about your position on Cap and Trade. That you think a massive bureaucracy that limits commercial production or forces the enterprise to pay for added production will not cost anything is stunning to me. I already showed you how much it will cost in terms of compliance for companies and for individuals. Again – if you would please read what I wrote before commenting on it (this seems to be a problem that plagues Marxists) – I was commenting on YOUR claim that Cap & Trade would “produce money for the government…”. Again, this is absurd. Producing money for the government means confiscating it from business. Since the government does not produce anything, companies will not see any benefit from the government confiscating their money. This will become just another expense for businesses. This will increase costs to the consumer (see CBO report) increase compliance costs and increase the amount of money the GOVERNMENT must spend in order to administer the new bureaucracy.
Please reply again! Marxist arguments are so weak – it’ll only be a matter of time until you give up and start calling me names.
Dave Chase said
– Our unfunded liability for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid is close to $100 trillion. Is there any way to pay for these programs without bankrupting America?
$100 Trillion is not even close to accurate (That’s 10 times our annual GDP), not even by the most liberal estimates but to answer you question, yes. It is not only possible to pay for these programs without bankrupting America but we could eliminate our national debt while doing so.
– We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?
Cap and trade produces money for the Government with virtually no adminstration costs. The US spends 16% of it’s GDP on healthcare and healthcare costs are rising at more the twice the rate of inflation. Implementing a single payer system would (as it has in every other western country) drop healthcare costs to about 10% of our GDP and drop the rate to roughly the same as inflation. Thus reliving State and Federal budget commitments for Medicare and Medcaid, which are the programs fore casted to add the most to our national debt in the next ten years (other then our little ventures in Afghanistan and Iraq).
– The stimulus package funneled billions of dollars to ACORN. How does giving billions of dollars to ACORN stimulate the economy?
Again your figures are way off but I suppose trying to explain how promoting civic engagement in a republic democracy during a time when less then half the country turns out to vote in mid-term elections would be a waste of words.
– If it was so important for congress to pass the stimulus bill before they even had time to read it why has only a fraction of the stimulus money been spent 6 months later?
Passing a bill quickly and desirably gave confidence to investors, slowing the downward economic spiral wall street was in.
– Bush said he had to abandon free market principles in order to save them, how exactly does that work?
No clue but my guess is he figured out that so called ‘free market principles’ are not the solution to everything.
– Why won’t members of Congress read the bills before they vote on them?
Why won’t voters elect someone else as soon as they find out their Congressman doesn’t read bills? 98% Reelection rate in the Senate and 94% reelection rate in the house says the American people could care less if their represenative reads bills. But if you are really wondering, every Congressman and Senator has a large staff that reads every bill and writes briefs of each bill for their boss. That is, by the way, the way the ‘Free Market’ corporate world works too.
– Why are citizens mocked and laughed at when they ask their congressman to read the bills before they vote on them?
Are you suggesting a congressman mocked and laughed at a voter? I am pretty sure that would make the news and ended that Congressman’s political life.
– Was the cash-for-clunkers program meant to save the earth or the economy? Did it accomplish either?
Bit of both. Yes. The program was so successful it’s funding ran out early. It boosted car sales during a recession and took gas guzzlers off the road and replaced them with far more fuel efficient vehicles.
– How did Van Jones, a self-proclaimed communist become a special advisor to the president?
How did Van Jones, a self-proclaimed alcoholic get a show on national television? People change. Jones work over the past 15 years has been outstanding and he has be praised by Democrats and Republicans alike.
– Did President Obama know of Van Jones’ radical political beliefs when he named him special advisor?
That’s a ridiculous question.
– The Apollo Alliance claimed credit for writing the stimulus bill—why was this group allowed to write any portion of this bill?
Its an $800 Billion dollar, 1000+ page bill, did you really think it was all written by a handful of House leaders?
– If politicians aren’t writing the bills and aren’t reading the bills, do they have any idea what these 1000 page plus bills actually impose on the American people?
Yes.
– If the ‘public option’ health care plan is so good why won’t politicians agree to have that as their plan?
The long answer has to do with trustee vs delegate represenation and a great number of polls. The short answer is because of Glenn Beck’s viewers.
– If town hall meetings are intended for the politicians to learn what’s on our mind—why do they spend so much time talking instead of listening?
Town Hall meetings are not just intended to learn what’s on ‘our’ mind, they are to explain proposed legislation and educate people as to the choices our elected officials are making. Clearly, they need a government 101 town hall.
– Politicians are refusing to attend town hall meetings complaining, without evidence, that they are scripted. Does that mean we shouldn’t come out and vote for you since every campaign stop, baby kiss and speech you give is scripted?
Yes. Please, don’t ever vote.
– Why would you want to overwhelm the system?
Is that a serious question? Beyond being vague and cryptic it does not seem to have any relevance to the questions previously asked.
– Is using the economic crises to rush legislation through congress what Rahm Emanuel meant when he talked about “not letting a crises go to waste”?
No. Pushing through healthcare legislation or energy legislation would be what he meant. Just like the Bush adminstration used 9/11 to invade Iraq, torture people, cut $3 Trillion dollars in taxes and triple the size of the Federal government.
– What are the czars paid? What is the budget for their staffs/offices?
Try a little research. You didn’t even have to go far for this one, it’s all in a publicly available report that the White House submits to Congress each year. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/Annual-Report-to-Congress-on-White-House-Staff-2009/
ToBeRight said
David, You sounds so reasonable!
First: Right – $100 trillion is too high – it’s only $53 Trillion. For you David, that’s 53,000 Billion. According to David M. Walker, who served as comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) from 1998 to 2008, this is the figure we’re dealing with. You say we can “pay for these programs” and eliminate the debt, too. Pray tell, how? I can’t wait to hear this!
Second, what is your source for stating as fact: “Cap and trade produces money for the Government with virtually no adminstration costs.” How exactly does Cap and Trade PRODUCE money? Cap and Trade, by definition “caps” how much a company can produce, and creates a market for artificial “trade” for carbon credits, which are nothing tangible. Carbon credits are either – they are made up widgets that have no intrinsic value.
So, I ask… How exactly does this “produce money” and do so with “no administrative costs?”
Forgetting about lost productivity for a second, which you clearly did not consider, the administrative costs for compliance alone will be staggering. Since you seem to like easy research, here’s one for you. According to the CBO (that’s the Congressional Budget Office) well, istead of paraphrasing, how about if I quote it for you, Brilliant One:
According to CBO’s estimates, the gross cost of complying with the GHG capand-
trade program delineated in H.R. 2454 would be about $110 billion in 2020
(measured in terms of 2010 levels of consumption and income), or about $890
per household (see Table 1).
Source: CBO Report 6/19/09 – http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10327/06-19-CapAndTradeCosts.pdf
Third, one question was regarding whether or not Congressmen know what they are imposing on the American people even though they (admittedly) don’t read the bill, to which you say simply: “Yes.” interesting. How exactly does one know what a bill does without reading it? Why, that’s amazing David! Hey, David – what am I thinking right now? (Well, that’s not really fair – even a moron could come up with a semi accurate answer for that.) Still, David, that is some neat trick that you claim Congressman can do – understand what a 1,000 page bill does without reading it. I wish I could have done that trick when I took SAT’s back in the 80’s.
Fourth, the initial post asked, “Politicians are refusing to attend town hall meetings complaining, without evidence, that they are scripted. Does that mean we shouldn’t come out and vote for you since every campaign stop, baby kiss and speech you give is scripted?” To which you replied: “Yes, don’t ever vote.”
Well, I guess this is par for the course. Leftists throughout history have shown a penchant for voter intimidation. While I don’t think, David, that you’ll ever physically prevent someone from voting, your preference is clear: forget Democracy – you seem to favor keeping those who disagree silenced. This speaks volumes about your perspective. Thanks for making your point of reference clear for us.
Lastly, though only because I am tired of writing and I think I have sufficiently decimated your pathetic attempt at sounding smart, the Bush administration did not invade Iraq because of 9/11. While 9/11 was a wake up call to the desire and motivation of our enemy, it was primarily the threat of WMD’s and the failure to comply with 17 UN resolutions that took us to war with Iraq. And regarding WMD’s please don’t post Bush lied or any of that vile crap – every liberal from Hillary Clinton to Al Gore to Nancy Pelosi claimed Iraq had or was developing WMD’s – the only admitted it, however when it was politically expedient.
So, David. You are wrong. You are wrong on almost every point you made. Completely, utterly, incontrovertibly wrong. Any right minded, semi-literate person could read these posts and see that. I only hope that your mind is not so poisoned by leftist (Marxist or Fascist, you may pick) philosophy, that you are someday able to think like a person who has been given the gift of freedom by God, instead of a politburo mouthpiece.
David, you would do well to stop trying to sound so authoritative and think about what you are writing. Clearly, from my dismantling of your often absurd and baseless claims, you have not been as thoughtful as you might.
ddenkhaus said
LOL, I read your response and was trying to figure out when I said anything that resembled any of that. Thank You for replying to him. I read his comment yesterday and was taking a sabbatical before replying to that. Now I do not have too. LOL.
Dave Chase said
Decimated indeed. Please give me a moment to collect my wits, I am not so sure I can survive another ‘dismantling’ from such a ferociously intelligent person such as yourself.
“Pray tell, how? I can’t wait to hear this!” First, implement a single payer system. Government funded but privately run. It would cut healthcare costs by more then 30% and let us move away from the pay for service model that keeps the annual rate of healthcare costs constantly increasing. That alone would relieve much of the long term deficit projections. Not to mention give us a healthier population but that is really an afterthought is these discussions.
Second, raise taxes. Republicans can go on all the rants they want about government overspending but at the end of they day, they had from 2000 to 2006 unified party control and doubled the federal budget while making massive tax cuts. It’s time to raise taxes.
Last, but certainly not least, pull out of both Iraq and Afghanistan. It will take 50 years and a hell of a lot more troops and money then the US is willing to commit to ensure successful democracies, time to cut our losses and stop the bloodshed (and red ink).
You original question on cap and trade had nothing to do with the compliance costs for companies and the pass through costs realized per household which is what the CBO numbers you provided are talking about (but I bet you really felt like you stuck it to me with that one, a link an all! Nice try).
Your question was “We are in so much debt, why spend more borrowed money on cap-and-trade and healthcare programs before we stop the flow of red-ink?” Cap and trade would aid in stopping the flow of red ink. The government is, as you say, producing widgets for sale. The cost for the Federal government to ensure compliance (administraive costs) is marginal given the anticipated revenues (Proceeds from the sale of so called widgets). Cap and trade would be a green spot on the Federal budget (in more ways then one).
“How exactly does one know what a bill does without reading it?” By reading your staff’s summery of the bill. I will venture a guess and say the reason you couldn’t do so on the SATs is because you didn’t have a staff. Or the need to read a 1000 page bill to take the SATs.
“Yes, don’t ever vote.” Is hardly voter intimidation but so long as you agree to never vote, I am satisfied. You have every right to vote, I am simply trying to talk you out of it, for the good of the country.
I honestly cannot believe your not going to denounce the Iraq war. First of all, if you think for even a second that the Bush administration didn’t use 9/11 to invade Iraq your are clearly blinded by your twisted world view. Second, the cooperation Pelosi and Clinton (Gore really? the man was in a mountain growing a beard in 02-03) doesn’t in anyway alter the fact that Bush lied, knew he was lying and used his lie to push the country towards war. While Congress may oversee the CIA’s budget, the CIA director reports to the President. Congress was an accomplice but certainly not the perpetrator to one of the all time worst crimes in US history that has led to more American deaths then 9/11 and a financial loss 100 times greater then Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Not to mention the gross infringement of the basic “God” given freedoms this country supposedly stands for.
While you convince yourself that you have picked apart my ‘attempt to sound smart’, let me explain why I posted my comment. It was mostly for sport, some people like to fish or golf, I like to poke arrogant neo-cons for fun. It’s relaxing. But I also like to hear what the radical right-wingers are spewing each week. I enjoy hearing the other side and it helps sharpen my own argument but more then anything, I am looking for a worthy opponent. I could have guessed I wouldn’t find it here, given that Glenn Beck’s name is in the title. The search continues.
Mike said
Isn’t “the government” bankrupt already? http://bit.ly/1ZJglp
ddenkhaus said
Yes we are and in massive debt!! Even Tim Geither says we can’t even pay down!