How Greece Has Outperformed Washington

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I'm wondering why Ralph of GA is "praying" for Republicans to take over. It's always the Republicans standing firmly in the way of tax increases for the rich, tax increases for corporations, any end to corporate subsidies and tax loopholes, and regulation of the BANKSTERS and other corporate raiders who have been riding roughshod over this country.
True that we desperately need cuts/reform in Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security to fix our budget deficits, but that requires both Dems and Repubs to compromise, and the party of Grover Norquist is never in a mood to compromise.
They are the problem -- not the solution. And, Mitt Romney with his secret income tax filings, and his dancing horse tax exemptions is the embodiment of all that is wrong with this country.
To make those cuts to social programs BEFORE reining in the ruling class and Corporate America's excesses, is just allowing ourselves to be played for fools.
Reform must begin by holding accountable those who profited from the predatory, dysfunctional system they created: Big Banks, Big Oil, Big Pharma, etc....and of course the mighty ONE PERCENT.

Saty13 of NY 8:58PM July 19, 2012

First things first. The US has a severe spending/spending growth problem.First we have to stop the growth, we could manage our current debt over time if we stop growing it. I don't think the American people will stand still for all of the other magic-smoke and mirrors fixes until that happens, it's going to be tough to start with but once we see Washington get serious about No-More-Borowing then it will be easier to swollow the next spending cuts and tax increases as needed.
There is no way that the illusion that borrowing from workers Social Security Payments BEFORE THEY EVEN CONTRIBUTE THEM (payroll tax cuts) and other gaget fixes (think PROMISE TO CUT THE SPENDING OVER 10 YEARS) that moves the problem down the road will solve the problem.
Stop Borrowing!!
I pray for a republican congress (need 4 seat pickup in senate and hold in the house, and at least a lame duck president (new would be good!) Then purge the rest that don't do right in 2016. Forget about the short term, this is long haul fix and we don't have long to continue our downhill slide before a Greece, Libia, developes.
If we continue to use the ballot box to vote ourselves a Govt. check then Ben Franklin's prediction on democracy will come true>
Vote for whoever you please in Nov. but be sure to consider carefully what you are voting for, for your family and the next generation of the American Dream. The Washington printing presses will not save it

Ralph of GA 9:14PM January 16, 2012

i enjoy reading your articles. Greece, i am ashamed to say, is a country full of con men, crooks and swindlers. It is a way of thinking and acting. Helas. annabel (unemployed translator)

annabel theodore 2:15PM August 24, 2011

The rich are every ones paymaster screw them see what you get

ken of GA 12:33PM July 17, 2011

ten percent across the board, no exceptions period. Fair and balanced. Everyone must pay their fair share. Those who don't want to, move to Greece.

Mike of MI 9:02AM July 16, 2011

A more realistic comparison than that between the US and Greece would be that between the US and the UK.
While Greece has had to be forced to start to put its house in order, the British government is implementing measures to bring it's economy into balance that are going to hurt but that the majority of Britons recognize as essential. (Not everyone in Britain read the News of the World)
This article from Reuters - http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/10/15/britain-government-reform-spending-idUSLDE69D1S820101015 - outlines the measures taken.
It should be borne in mind that these cuts in public spending and tax increases - yes, tax increases - are being imposed by a Conservative government, which puts the posturing of senior Republicans in perspective.
Still, it would be "unrealistic" to expect Republicans to look outside the US for an example of what they should be advocating. On top of that, every republican knows that, if he or she advocates tax increases for the rich, they'll never get elected again, because the election funds will suddenly dry up.
If anything is going to bring financial crisis to the US, it is the inability of senior Republicans to contemplate realistic tax increases for their paymasters.

Speliologist of NY 7:23AM July 16, 2011

Americans live in luxury better make the sacrifices now rather than take cuts when you want to retire 10 years from now. The sooner we accept that things have changed and we are facing serious challanges the better. From the look of things jobs will continue to be shed and the deficiet if not reined in will continue to spiral upwards. It is clear the government spends more than it is brining in.

Kennedy 4:48AM July 15, 2011

Greece is not a federal state. "Federal workforce" is a misnomer at best

Mr X 10:18AM July 08, 2011

Joe --
Yeah, they can. why wouldn't an economically constrained American buy the Tata Nano? indian-made high-efficiency vehicle (50 mpg) that meets *all* the domestic american safety standards for around $7k? granted, i haven't seen it on the market yet, though i've been led to believe that they'll be here late this summer.
i hate the geo metro i've been driving for the past decade, but 5 more miles to the gallon will make a lot of difference for me. i'm considering it.
Bif --
what *is* a deficit terrorist? and why should anyone who advocates strong steps toward financial austerity be called such, especially here in the US? in the now, it's hard enough to live as a bachelor in the States, moreso if you're a family man. the only measures we as a nation have taken thus far have been to pass the buck of paying the debt to citizens who haven't even been *born* yet. TARP? "quantitative easing"? *there* are your terror weapons, chief.

Bernhall Franknard the Deuce of TN 9:07AM July 07, 2011

Re: "Yet it's worth pointing out that over the last year or so, Greece has put in place the kind of searing and necessary reforms that other nations—including the United States—will need to institute sooner or later, but so far have only talked about. "Greece hasn't been in full compliance with the program, but we shouldn't underestimate what they've done," says Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. "They've come a long way." Those angry protests in the streets of Athens, in a way, are a testament to the effectiveness of the Greek reforms: They've cut so deep that citizens are revolting."
Nice to see you've fallen in with the deficit terrorists at the Peterson Institute, Rick. Get a clue.

Bif of WY 5:04PM July 02, 2011