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Enough with the propaganda graphics. Please. Political theory and hundreds of years of tradition holds that the legislature, not the President, is solely respo

Enough with the propaganda graphics. Please. Political theory and hundreds of years of tradition holds that the legislature, not the President, is solely responsible for spending. That's why we have legislatures. That's their job -- to exert popular control over taxes and spending. It's also a fact that the people you currently elect are responsible for the spending and policies that go on today. If new guys couldn't change policies and spending, then why have elections at all? Please. Enough of this already. You want me to sign a letter saying your guy is awesome? Happy to do it. Just please cease and desist the posturing.

hugh3 15y ago
Indeed. And it's not even a discussion of any actual utility, it's just finger-pointing. The question of precisely how we should dole out blame for the debt problem (actual answer: a big ol' helping of blame for everybody, including politicians of both parties and the population in general who failed to make it a political issue) is completely irrelevant for the question which needs to be debated: how to solve the damn debt problem. I'm not really interested in helping politicians out as they try to shift blame onto each other. They're pretty good at doing that kind of thing themselves.
nimblegorilla 15y ago
What do you mean by propaganda graphics? That article seems pretty factual to me. If we can't have articles like that then it seems like you are arguing for a public informed solely by talking-head soundbites. Also, the president has some influence on policy debates and can veto any spending bill congress passes. I don't think it's accurate to say the legislature is solely responsible for spending.
- OstiaAntica 15y ago
  In the U.S. the legislature really does hold the power of the purse. The substantial majority of spending is through entitlements, tax code distributions, and debt repayments, which are all on autopilot. The President can veto year-to-year discretionary spending, but the veto can be overridden, which damages the president's credibility and so that situation is avoided by capitulating.
  - nimblegorilla 15y ago
    I'm not disagreeing with that, but the executive branch has some influence. Especially when the vice president casts tie-breaker votes in the senate. Vetos also need a larger majority to override and congress is often split down the middle.

hugh3 15y ago

Indeed. And it's not even a discussion of any actual utility, it's just finger-pointing. The question of precisely how we should dole out blame for the debt problem (actual answer: a big ol' helping of blame for everybody, including politicians of both parties and the population in general who failed to make it a political issue) is completely irrelevant for the question which needs to be debated: how to solve the damn debt problem. I'm not really interested in helping politicians out as they try to shift blame onto each other. They're pretty good at doing that kind of thing themselves.

nimblegorilla 15y ago

What do you mean by propaganda graphics? That article seems pretty factual to me. If we can't have articles like that then it seems like you are arguing for a public informed solely by talking-head soundbites. Also, the president has some influence on policy debates and can veto any spending bill congress passes. I don't think it's accurate to say the legislature is solely responsible for spending.

OstiaAntica 15y ago
In the U.S. the legislature really does hold the power of the purse. The substantial majority of spending is through entitlements, tax code distributions, and debt repayments, which are all on autopilot. The President can veto year-to-year discretionary spending, but the veto can be overridden, which damages the president's credibility and so that situation is avoided by capitulating.
- nimblegorilla 15y ago
  I'm not disagreeing with that, but the executive branch has some influence. Especially when the vice president casts tie-breaker votes in the senate. Vetos also need a larger majority to override and congress is often split down the middle.