"PAYGO was passed by Congress"

So if Congress doesn't eliminate it, KNOWING what will have to happen ...

Which democrats will you blame then?

"if all else fails you can blame someone and make it their fault if they don't change it"

Trump's actions, or inactions, led to this.

Your only defense is everybody in Trump's administration is TOO STUPID to know how the equation works.

As I pointed out upthread, EVERYONE seems to know this except you.

And since you've been given links and explanations you STILL don't understand, you're clearly just as stupid as you pretend they are.

"They chose not to fulfill an information request"

If there are retaliatory threats or actions, THAT'S NOT A "REQUEST".

"It's the PAYGO enforcement mechanism, not the bill itself."

If Trump wanted to end PAYGO, this was the perfect time.

The fact we still have PAYGO means Trump KNOWS this will happen.

BillJohnson,

Please reread #87 as many times as it takes to understand it.

"even PAYGO doesn't cut benefits. It reduces payments to doctors and hosptials."

Oh my god.

The stupid, it burns.

REDUCING PAYMENTS ARE CUTS.

"how does Trumps tax bill cut Medicare."

He DIDN'T end PAYGO, and could have.

Every numbers person knows that'll trigger automatic cuts.

Trump and his advisors know that. Every Congressperson knows that. Every hospital administrator knows that. Every medical provider knows that.

It seems the only folks in denial are Republicans who don't want to admit reality.

"To be fair, they certainly could. It wouldn't do anything useful, but ... "

I know you're joking.

Nuking a hurricane would scatter radioactive debris over time zones.

Scores of government employees would resign before they'd find a moron stupid enough to follow through.

Aw, who am I kidding; it's the Trump administration. Stephen Miller would be doing his best Slim Pickens impersonation atop the nuke.

"could add $3.8tn to US debt"

They're lying.

Borrowing includes interest costs. They're NOT including interest.

They're also (no surprise) assuming HUGE growth during massive layoffs.

With interest and unmet revenue goals, the cost will end up over 4.5 Trillion. In fact, if the over/under was $5 Trillion, I'd take the over.

"with my 80 points I get health care through my former employer."

What does that mean?

Nothing serious, I'm just curious. I'm a former Health Plan Trustee, and unfamiliar with that reference. Please explain.

Thanks.

"It's strange Lumpers support spending tax dollars on subsidies, but complain when consumers have to pay more in tariff (taxes)."

Tell me you don't know the difference between progressive taxes and regressive taxes without using those specific words.

"The hope is less people buy Apple products, and incentivizes developers and manufactures in the US to develop competing products."

Apple will be surprised they're not a US company.

But, regardless if the manufacturing stays there or comes here, the unit costs will spike, giving opportunity for competitors to raise their prices as well. Ultimately, Americans will pay more-a lot more-for the same goods.

Is that your goal?!?

" it wouldn't apply to pardons right?"

Gosh darn it ... that was the ONE pardon done in longhand!

"If the trade balance is not restored, we will literally lose our country. Foreigners will own our country. Do you understand?"

Yes, I understand complex math equations. Do you?

Do you understand Republicans built this?

Between incentivizing moving businesses to China, to borrowing trillions for new or expiring tax cuts, to filibustering any-and-all tax increases, Republicans are either responsible, or irresponsible.

"I'm not sure what your point is"

I'll type slower so you can understand.

After Nixon opened China, the Reagan tax code incentivized relocation to China. The Dubya codes (let's be serious, Cheney I and Cheney II) reset America's fiscal sights from surpluses to deficits. In Cheney
II, a stunning 27% went to the wealthiest 1%, a number so staggering. Dubya had to point out the wealthiest had received the lion's share from the first code change.

"We won the midterms; It's our due" Cheney famously replied.
Subsequent Republicans refused to raise taxes.

Trump then had folks hold his Diet Coke, as his code gave a whopping 82% to the 1%, with trillions and trillions of additional dollars borrowed, mainly to give away in tax cuts.

You lived through all of this. Were you paying attention???

"the only reason China et al has been able to buy our bonds is because of their trade surplus, which also enables them to buy our land."

Gee, if only Republicans hadn't reset our fiscal sights from surpluses to deficits, we wouldn't have that problem, would we?

"Either the tariff, or make them in America."

That's an easy choice for them: they'll take the tariff.

Now remind me: who pays the tariff, Copernicus?

" I don't remember that."

Tell us you only watch news outlets willing to lie to you, without using those specific words.

" Flag: *abusive + *hilarious"

Awww, look at the Big Man, making fun of the stroke victim.

SOOOO funny!

" If you had to choose, on which side would you live?"

As a longtime negotiator, I wouldn't be picked for that jury.

" One penny a week per American taxpayer for Israel is too much"

I wasn't referring to the recipients, I was referring to the scale.

I've stated repeatedly there are no heroes in the conflict, just two sides both guilty of war crimes.

" Adjusting for inflation, US aid to Israel from 1951 to 2022 totaled $317.9 billion"

So ... .what's that breakdown: $2/mo per American? That's almost fifty cents a week!!!

" Sounds like the author has been drinking the Haterade."

Sounds more like you missed the event.

Vance absolutely beclowned himself trying to pretend it wasn't a set-up.

"There's plenty of places to get information."

Then why were you asking the question?

And who TF posts a thread without reading the article???

" I found myself the blessed recipient of answered prayers"

Huh?

You gave up a chance to be with the love of your life.

Were you actually praying for THAT???