Stimulus spending (split from cap& trade thread)

[Nebula815]

Now, then, we have entered a massive recession. The unemployment rate has skyrocketed. Suddenly we have a number of people who are no longer producing capital, and so there is much less to go around for everybody to consume.

Fewer people producing capital doesn't mean less capital will be produced per se, as companies can figure out how to produce the same amount with fewer people (this is a concern right now, that companies that have gotten comfortable doing more with less in this recession won't hire back previous numbers).

Also, assuming capital production will lower as fewer people produce it, those people no longer producing it will not be consuming it nearly as much either. So even if there is less to go around, there is also less consumption overall.

Furthermore those who are not producing capital have lost the ability to trade whatever capital they produce for the capital they need, and so we have a lot of people who have dramatically lowered standards of living.

I am a bit confused here, you said those not producing capital have lost the ability to trade whatever capital they produce...? How are they producing it if they are not?

If we want to fix this situation, the only thing that we need to do is to get people back to producing capital again. If we can do that, then once again the economy will ensure that nearly everybody will be receiving the capital they need to have a decent lifestyle: the economy will have recovered. Any and all actions that we perform to produce an economic recovery are but means to the end of achieving an acceptable unemployment level (say, 4-5%). It doesn't make sense that an action that gets us to that point could be a bad thing for the economy,

The problem is the action that is to get us to that point but does not have that effect.

So, when we sit down and start looking at real proposals that are designed to do exactly this (to achieve full employment), such as a fiscal stimulus, it shouldn't be such a tremendous surprise that certain features of said plains (e.g. debt increase) don't end up being nearly as bad as we might naively think.

If fiscal stimulus could be guaranteed to, fine, but I get really queasy over the idea of trusting $1 trillion+ dollars to the U.S. government to spend it properly to recover the economy.

 

[Chalnoth]

Fewer people producing capital doesn't mean less capital will be produced per se, as companies can figure out how to produce the same amount with fewer people (this is a concern right now, that companies that have gotten comfortable doing more with less in this recession won't hire back previous numbers).

No matter what, that still means less capital produced than possible. If you can produce more capital with fewer people, then that means that more total capital can be produced.

Also, assuming capital production will lower as fewer people produce it, those people no longer producing it will not be consuming it nearly as much either. So even if there is less to go around, there is also less consumption overall.

Perhaps if they're unemployed and destitute. That's not a situation we want.

I am a bit confused here, you said those not producing capital have lost the ability to trade whatever capital they produce...? How are they producing it if they are not?

If they're not producing it, they don't have capital to trade.

If fiscal stimulus could be guaranteed to, fine, but I get really queasy over the idea of trusting $1 trillion+ dollars to the U.S. government to spend it properly to recover the economy.

Like I said, just look at the example of WW2. We spent far, far more (as a fraction of GDP), and came out of it wonderfully. The added debt was no problem to pay off because the economy had recovered.

 

[mugaliens]

Like I said, just look at the example of WW2. We spent far, far more (as a fraction of GDP), and came out of it wonderfully. The added debt was no problem to pay off because the economy had recovered.

While true, War economies have other costs which make waging war unacceptible as a means of economic recovery.

 

[Chalnoth]

That's because none of the infrastructure was bombed out in the continental U.S. The economic prosperity occurred because so much of the rest of the world's economies were busy rebuilding and could not compete. By 1960, the economy was stalled again.

By what measure? Grabbing GDP data from here:
http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/categories/18/downloaddata

I produced this plot of real GDP quarterly growth:
http://people.sissa.it/~dick/gdp_growth.png

I see no significant drop in increase of the real GDP in the 60's. In fact, the growth seems extremely consistent between 0-5% the whole way through. Note that the data end before the current crisis.

The Federal Reserve wising up prevented the further recurrences. In the 1929 crash, the markets declined by about 12%. By comparison, in the 1987 crash, they declined by about 24%, and in the 2000 crash, over 50%. But the Fed didn't decide to hike up interest rates with the federal government drastically raising taxes and tariffs in response to those incidences.

Well, that's part of it. But if it was just a matter of the Fed wising up and not doing destructive things, then we wouldn't be in the current mess. The Fed's actions may have deepened the depression, but they certainly didn't cause it.

Nonetheless, the banks and Wall Street were in need of increased regulation after the 1929 crash. But they became too regulated. The Reagan-era deregulation freed up much of Wall Street and made the way for a great deal of economic recovery and a liberalization of finance, making it much more available overall. The financial system become much more efficient and many big, bloated American corporations became streamlined and much more efficient.

It directly led to the Savings and Loan crisis in the 80's, and basically every crisis since then.

Inflation that counters deflation perfectly is fine, but not when the inflation becomes excessive. If interest rates go up, that hamstrings economic growth.

Yes, which was the basic cause of a number of recessions. It's not an ideal situation, of course, but it does stop inflation.

When I say inefficient, I'm talking about the government's speed at getting the money out.

That's not a serious argument against the stimulus, considering that without one we'll be in a prolonged slump that will last many years.

I wouldn't say that because digging ditches accomplishes nothing and there is no way to know if the workers will go out and spend the money. Whereas building tanks, guns, airplanes, etc...requires mining for raw materials, constructing things, basically building tools that are then used for fighting the war.

Things that are then sent off and blown up, or at least put to no economic use. The only difference is complexity: there's a few more steps involved before the ditch is filled back in, per se, than with the simple ditch digging scenario. But it's still the same, because the end product is precisely as useless.

It can stimulate a great deal of the overall economy because the government is buying a bunch of stuff, as opposed to the consumer. With a peacetime stimulus, there is no exact way to do this.

What do you mean no exact way? They should basically do the same thing, but just dedicate it to reasonable peacetime purposes. For example, they could do many of the things that the stimulus went to: build bridges, fix roads, insulate buildings, purchase more energy-efficient machinery and appliances, build solar and wind power plants, upgrade the electric grid, and so on and so forth. If they increased the scale of these projects and didn't worry too much about efficiency in the long run, it would work just fine, provided the total magnitude was large enough.

Another to keep in mind regarding WWII is right after WWII, the U.S. government did not yet have the huge entitlement base it has to spend on now, so the debt was paid down fairly quickly. Running up a large debt in modern times I do not think would be nearly so easy to pay down, as the government is running deficits as is to meet the current budget.

Er, that's because of Bush's irresponsible wars and tax cuts. Get rid of those, and we won't have much of a problem.

 

[Chalnoth]

While true, War economies have other costs which make waging war unacceptible as a means of economic recovery.

Haha, I'm certainly not suggesting waging war. I'm suggesting that we sort of 'simulate' a part of that: the part where the government buys lots of stuff. As war shows pretty well, we really don't need to be too concerned about what the government buys, as long as the magnitude is large enough to close the output gap.

 

[Nebula815]

Like I said, just look at the example of WW2. We spent far, far more (as a fraction of GDP), and came out of it wonderfully. The added debt was no problem to pay off because the economy had recovered.

We didn't have the huge entitlement burden then that we do now.

I see no significant drop in increase of the real GDP in the 60's. In fact, the growth seems extremely consistent between 0-5% the whole way through. Note that the data end before the current crisis.

One of the reasons Kennedy sought to cut taxes at the time was to help stimulate the stalled economy. GDP growth isn't the sole factor for determining the health of the economy. The GDP grew more during the 1930s then in the 1990s, b/c the economy was younger at the time.

Well, that's part of it. But if it was just a matter of the Fed wising up and not doing destructive things, then we wouldn't be in the current mess.

Yes we would because this crises was caused by a real-estate bubble bursting, which is an extreme blow to an economy. In 1929, the Fed took what should have been an ordinary recession and turned it into a depression.

The Fed's actions may have deepened the depression, but they certainly didn't cause it.

They were one of the primary causes by cutting the money supply.

It directly led to the Savings and Loan crisis in the 80's, and basically every crisis since then.

To some degree perhaps. The only other real crises since then was the Dot Com bubble, which was a speculative technology bubble, and then the real-estate crises of now, which I would not blame on deregulation but Fannie/Freddie and a lack of oversight (regulation does not necessarily equate to oversight).

That's not a serious argument against the stimulus, considering that without one we'll be in a prolonged slump that will last many years.

Maybe, maybe not. I don't see how a stimulus makes a difference either way when the government doesn't spend the money quickly, and when it can end up going to things like funding of research or entitlement programs.

Things that are then sent off and blown up, or at least put to no economic use. The only difference is complexity: there's a few more steps involved before the ditch is filled back in, per se, than with the simple ditch digging scenario. But it's still the same, because the end product is precisely as useless.

But a ditch requires nothing from the overall economy. With producing military products, all sorts of companies are involved.

What do you mean no exact way? They should basically do the same thing, but just dedicate it to reasonable peacetime purposes.

How do you define "reasonable peacetime purposes?" That could be funding entitlement programs, funding research programs on things, all sorts of things that do not stimulate the economy. Even infrastructure programs can get caught with delays and so forth.

With a war, you put up the factories and then start producing the goods. Most industries become involved in some manner.

For example, they could do many of the things that the stimulus went to: build bridges, fix roads, insulate buildings, purchase more energy-efficient machinery and appliances, build solar and wind power plants, upgrade the electric grid, and so on and so forth. If they increased the scale of these projects and didn't worry too much about efficiency in the long run, it would work just fine, provided the total magnitude was large enough.

Too much corruption I think occurs in trying to get the money to all of those things and not into people's pockets. Look at how much money disappeared that was sent to aid New Orleans after Katrina for example.

Also politics. For example, Los Angelos seriously needs more highway lanes. That could be a perfect way to stimulate that local economy, building more roads and highways. The LA traffic gridlock occurs because the highway system was built to handle 1960s traffic.

But then the environmentalists went and basically banned any further highway construction. Or you could end up with worthless infrastructure (everyone has heard of Sarah Palin's "Bridge to Nowhere" for example. Solar and wind power plants are not viable right now. And so forth.

With a war, you just put up the factories and start producing the products.

Er, that's because of Bush's irresponsible wars

There was nothing "irresponsible" about going into Afghanistan and as for Iraq, at the time, they believed it was a serious threat. Either way, the combined wars cost thus far about $600 billion or so. By comparison, Bush and the Republicans enacted a $400 billion expansion of Medicare, and that was just one of the big spending things the Republicans did.

So I wouldn't blame the deficit much on the wars but more on the entitlement spending, as the government won't spend less money unless forced.

and tax cuts.

Nothing wrong with these either. We are a country of lower taxes, not high taxes. Cutting taxes isn't what blows up the deficit, it is spending too much. For example, California, New York, and New Jersey all have among the highest taxes in the nation. They also have among the largest budget deficits. They keep raising taxes higher and then spending even more.

Get rid of those, and we won't have much of a problem.

Yes we will, because the government will replace the wars with more entitlement spending, and any increased revenue from tax increases they will find ways to spend.

 

[Chalnoth]

Maybe, maybe not. I don't see how a stimulus makes a difference either way when the government doesn't spend the money quickly, and when it can end up going to things like funding of research or entitlement programs.

Uh, what? We're talking a duration for nearly all of it to be spent of ~2 years. Sure, for a normal recession, that wouldn't be so great, because most recessions are over by then. But for the mess we're in, it's not a significant issue.

The effect it will have on the economy is basically the same. Happening later doesn't make one whit of difference, except for the fact that the positive impact is delayed. There is also basically no economic difference between the government directly buying things (e.g. bridges) and funding entitlement programs to make it so that the public can buy things.

But a ditch requires nothing from the overall economy. With producing military products, all sorts of companies are involved.

Which is only a difference in complexity. It's still the same thing as all those workers being paid to dig ditches and fill them back up. With the only possible difference that the factories remain in operation, and can thus be more readily put to use to other purposes once the economy has recovered. As far as that part is concerned, though, nobody need worry: anything the government buys now for recovery would require similar infrastructure, so this part would not be different.

The only difference is that the end product of a modern stimulus package actually has a chance of being economically useful. Tanks, guns, bullets, bombs, warplanes, etc. just are of no use whatsoever to the economy. So we still have a much better chance of getting a big recovery with a strong economy to follow if we provide a big enough stimulus.

How do you define "reasonable peacetime purposes?" That could be funding entitlement programs, funding research programs on things, all sorts of things that do not stimulate the economy. Even infrastructure programs can get caught with delays and so forth.

You keep harping on against entitlement programs. I can only think that you have this deep-seated belief that poor people should suffer and we shouldn't do anything to help them.

Because the fact remains that these activities are very stimulating, because the money ends up going directly to buying goods and services (e.g. prescription drugs, doctor's visits, food).

Too much corruption I think occurs in trying to get the money to all of those things and not into people's pockets. Look at how much money disappeared that was sent to aid New Orleans after Katrina for example.

Once again, it doesn't matter. It can be wildly inefficient, and it's still horrifyingly better than doing nothing.

Nothing wrong with these either.

You don't see anything wrong with dramatically increasing spending while at the same time reducing revenue while the economy is on otherwise reasonably good ground?

 

[mheslep]

Because the fact remains that these activities are very stimulating,

Please don't use that term 'fact' in this context. It is has not been demonstrated as such here. It may be correct, but it is your opinion, and not one of an expert unless you'd care to claim that background. The forum rules require sources for assertions of fact.

 

[Nebula815]

Uh, what? We're talking a duration for nearly all of it to be spent of ~2 years. Sure, for a normal recession, that wouldn't be so great, because most recessions are over by then. But for the mess we're in, it's not a significant issue.

Two years is a fairly long time to try to stimulate the economy with the necessary money required. No one knows how exactly long the current crises will last, Christina Rhomer had made some very optimistic predictions for economic growth by now.

The effect it will have on the economy is basically the same. Happening later doesn't make one whit of difference, except for the fact that the positive impact is delayed. There is also basically no economic difference between the government directly buying things (e.g. bridges) and funding entitlement programs to make it so that the public can buy things

Depends on what the entitlement program is for. And if the money goes into funding research into certain things, well that can be nice from a research standpoint, but there is no way to know if it will stimulate the economy or not.

Which is only a difference in complexity. It's still the same thing as all those workers being paid to dig ditches and fill them back up. With the only possible difference that the factories remain in operation, and can thus be more readily put to use to other purposes once the economy has recovered. As far as that part is concerned, though, nobody need worry: anything the government buys now for recovery would require similar infrastructure, so this part would not be different.

Actual stimulation of the economy will create wealth though, even if the government is the customer for the various products and services by taking on debt temporarily. Just paying people to dig ditches will produce nothing of value. No wealth is created. Wealth could be created as those people are essentially being given checks which they will then go out and spend (hopefully), but then in that case, you might as well just give the money directly to the people, no need to have them dig any ditches at all. Just pay them and hope they spend the money.

Problem is maybe they won't, because they do not know how long the checks will last and how long the economic situation will remain sour, so they made hoarde the money, thus negating any economic effect.

The government directly buying the stuff will work better in theory thus, problem is that no one can keep proper track of the money and it may not go towards buying stuff.

The only difference is that the end product of a modern stimulus package actually has a chance of being economically useful. Tanks, guns, bullets, bombs, warplanes, etc. just are of no use whatsoever to the economy. So we still have a much better chance of getting a big recovery with a strong economy to follow if we provide a big enough stimulus.

Well the products need not be "useful," I mean a whole bunch of the economy is based on things that are technically worthless, they are just fun. If the government could figure out how to order enough cars, SUVs, snacks, DVDs, electronics, apparel, etc...from each and every manufacturer at a level to literally take the place of the consumer, then the economy would recover fine. The government could just then take all of that stuff and burn it or scrap it somehow.

The big problem again is trusting government to know how to do this efficiently.

You keep harping on against entitlement programs. I can only think that you have this deep-seated belief that poor people should suffer and we shouldn't do anything to help them.

Has it ever occurred to you that quite a few entitlement programs do not, in fact, help the poor, but increase the levels of poverty and destroy communities? It depends on the entitlement program. We saw poverty skyrocket when welfare roles and entitlements were greatly upped in the mid-1960s, for example.

Furthermore, we are talking about ways to stimulate the economy here. But I should have been more clear. When I said entitlement programs, I mean the pet projects various politicians come up with essentially to redistribute wealth and to buy votes from the public.

Because the fact remains that these activities are very stimulating, because the money ends up going directly to buying goods and services (e.g. prescription drugs, doctor's visits, food).

A great deal of the money goes into waste, fraud, corruption, etc...just look at Medicaid or Medicare. Again, it depends.

Once again, it doesn't matter.

Why wouldn't it matter? If money is spent to stimulate the economy, by saying going into infrastructure projects, it needs to fund those projects, not go into areas it shouldn't.

It can be wildly inefficient, and it's still horrifyingly better than doing nothing.

It depends.

You don't see anything wrong with dramatically increasing spending while at the same time reducing revenue while the economy is on otherwise reasonably good ground?

Of course I do. You are supposed to cut spending when you cut taxes. That's one of the reasons to keep them low. To force the government to remain fiscally responsible. If the tax cuts happen to increase revenue, as they occasionally can depending on certain factors, then the government needs to remain fiscally conservative nonetheless.

 

[Chalnoth]

Please don't use that term 'fact' in this context. It is has not been demonstrated as such here. It may be correct, but it is your opinion, and not one of an expert unless you'd care to claim that background. The forum rules require sources for assertions of fact.

I already presented the argument above. It's not very difficult. It's just a statement that the money that goes to entitlement programs is spent on goods and services in the economy.

 

[Chalnoth]

Two years is a fairly long time to try to stimulate the economy with the necessary money required. No one knows how exactly long the current crises will last, Christina Rhomer had made some very optimistic predictions for economic growth by now.

Optimistic in what sense? We're so far down now that we would need to have many years of very strong sustained growth just to get back to 'normal'. Are you saying that Romer has presented evidence that we're going have a massive spike in growth, far beyond some of the more prosperous years in our history, such as during Clinton's presidency? Or are you just suggesting that 7%-10% unemployment is now okay?

Depends on what the entitlement program is for. And if the money goes into funding research into certain things, well that can be nice from a research standpoint, but there is no way to know if it will stimulate the economy or not.

I'll say it again: the money used on these projects, whether entitlement or research, does not disappear into the ether. It is used to buy goods and services. Researchers may need laboratories, computers, chemicals, lab equipment, measurement devices, etc. And, of course, they also have to hire researchers (though that's a relatively small fraction of the total cost most of the time these days).

You may not think that the products of this research is useful, but it doesn't need to be to be stimulating. Simply because the money is used to purchase goods and services it is necessarily stimulating because it increases demand for those goods and services (and the problem with our economy right now is a lack of demand).

Actual stimulation of the economy will create wealth though, even if the government is the customer for the various products and services by taking on debt temporarily. Just paying people to dig ditches will produce nothing of value.

Making bombs also produces nothing of value to the economy. And yet it worked marvelously to stimulate the economy in WW2. What is the problem here? What part of this do you not understand?

Problem is maybe they won't, because they do not know how long the checks will last and how long the economic situation will remain sour, so they made hoarde the money, thus negating any economic effect.

They at least have to buy the basic necessities of life, and are likely to buy a few things in addition. They can't do that if they're unemployed and destitute.

We are literally talking about the difference here between a homeless person and one being paid a living wage. Do you honestly think that the person being paid a living wage will not spend more money?

Well the products need not be "useful," I mean a whole bunch of the economy is based on things that are technically worthless, they are just fun. If the government could figure out how to order enough cars, SUVs, snacks, DVDs, electronics, apparel, etc...from each and every manufacturer at a level to literally take the place of the consumer, then the economy would recover fine. The government could just then take all of that stuff and burn it or scrap it somehow.

Yes, this would be one option. I think we could do better, though, by not making useless things. The only reason to make this point, again, is that we don't have to be worried about efficiency.

Has it ever occurred to you that quite a few entitlement programs do not, in fact, help the poor, but increase the levels of poverty and destroy communities? It depends on the entitlement program. We saw poverty skyrocket when welfare roles and entitlements were greatly upped in the mid-1960s, for example.

Your assertion appears completely contradicted by the data:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_poverty_rate_timeline.gif

Entitlement programs, by the way, are largely not about reducing the poverty rate. Most of them are about making it so that if you find yourself in poverty, your life isn't quite so bad. Obviously programs such as educational programs that are about reducing the poverty rate are also a good thing.

Of course I do. You are supposed to cut spending when you cut taxes. That's one of the reasons to keep them low. To force the government to remain fiscally responsible. If the tax cuts happen to increase revenue, as they occasionally can depending on certain factors, then the government needs to remain fiscally conservative nonetheless.

That is completely contrary to the conservative argument. The entire argument for the Reagan (and subsequent conservative) tax cuts is that tax cuts stimulate the economy, which increases total tax revenue, which means that you can have your cake and eat it too: you don't need to lower spending, because tax cuts will increase revenues! So the fact that the national debt has risen quite significantly each time we've had a president in office who has pursued this same tax cut policy should be no surprise whatsoever: the whole thing was based upon wishful thinking.

Finally, let me just close with one final statement: you've claimed many, many times that most of government spending is 'inefficient' in that it goes to fraud and other such things. Demonstrate this.

 

[Nebula815]

Optimistic in what sense? We're so far down now that we would need to have many years of very strong sustained growth just to get back to 'normal'. Are you saying that Romer has presented evidence that we're going have a massive spike in growth, far beyond some of the more prosperous years in our history, such as during Clinton's presidency? Or are you just suggesting that 7%-10% unemployment is now okay?

No. But if you remember, the administration had presented some very optimistic numbers for the economy inititally, saying unemployment would not go above 8% and how they expected the economy would be growing soon.

I'll say it again: the money used on these projects, whether entitlement or research, does not disappear into the ether. It is used to buy goods and services. Researchers may need laboratories, computers, chemicals, lab equipment, measurement devices, etc. And, of course, they also have to hire researchers (though that's a relatively small fraction of the total cost most of the time these days).

They may need to buy certain equipment, or they will buy nothing and just using the funding to gain access to certain scientific equipment. For entitlements, it really depends on the entitlement.

You may not think that the products of this research is useful, but it doesn't need to be to be stimulating. Simply because the money is used to purchase goods and services it is necessarily stimulating because it increases demand for those goods and services (and the problem with our economy right now is a lack of demand).

Yes.

Making bombs also produces nothing of value to the economy. And yet it worked marvelously to stimulate the economy in WW2. What is the problem here? What part of this do you not understand?

Entitlements and research are not making bombs and are not guaranteed to create demand in the same way making bombs will. Again, it depends on the entitlements and research.

They at least have to buy the basic necessities of life, and are likely to buy a few things in addition. They can't do that if they're unemployed and destitute.

If they do not know how many checks they will get, they'll likely only buy the bare necessities.

We are literally talking about the difference here between a homeless person and one being paid a living wage. Do you honestly think that the person being paid a living wage will not spend more money?

How does the person know if they are getting a "wage" though as opposed to just a check for once, twice, or however long? That is the problem.

Yes, this would be one option. I think we could do better, though, by not making useless things. The only reason to make this point, again, is that we don't have to be worried about efficiency.

Efficiency is a concern because it can otherwise require one to enact exorbitant amounts of spending to try and get anything done, and then when completed, the projects may be of low quality.

Your assertion appears completely contradicted by the data:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_poverty_rate_timeline.gif

The poverty rate has tended to remain the same historically, despite all of the increased spending. But we saw many communities fall prey to the crime, drugs, lack of work ethic, etc...of cradle-to-grave welfare and entitlement spending.

Entitlement programs, by the way, are largely not about reducing the poverty rate. Most of them are about making it so that if you find yourself in poverty, your life isn't quite so bad. Obviously programs such as educational programs that are about reducing the poverty rate are also a good thing.

Yes, such programs are well-meaning, what is bad is if they can become a lifestyle, which is exactly what happened for a quite a few years. A social safety net to help a cushion a person's fall if they get knocked down hard, until they can get back up, one can make an argument for.

That is completely contrary to the conservative argument. The entire argument for the Reagan (and subsequent conservative) tax cuts is that tax cuts stimulate the economy, which increases total tax revenue, which means that you can have your cake and eat it too: you don't need to lower spending, because tax cuts will increase revenues!

That is not the argument Reagan made. In fact, Reagan argued specifically that you cut taxes precisely to force the government to stop spending so much. If taxes are too restrictively high, then yes, cutting them can increase revenues, and historically when you cut the capital-gains tax rate, revenues will increase (at least initially).

Certain conservatives who lack the proper understanding have made the argument that if you lower taxes, you automatically increase revenues. This comes from a misunderstanding of the Laffer Curve (i.e. tax at 0%, get zero revenues, tax at 100%, get zero revenues, or very little).

So the fact that the national debt has risen quite significantly each time we've had a president in office who has pursued this same tax cut policy should be no surprise whatsoever: the whole thing was based upon wishful thinking.

The national debt increasing is not due to tax cuts, it is due to too much government spending, as government never will use increased revenues from taxes to pay down debt, it will simply increase spending even moreso. Reagan cut government spending, but nonetheless had to deal with the initial increased deficit from his tax cuts and defense spending (also the higher interest rates to fix inflation initially). Plus he could not convince the Democrats in Congress to reduce social spending as he wanted.

Nonetheless, the deficit began shrinking around 1985ish. Then there was the market crash in 1987. Then George H. W. Bush became President and began the excessive government spending again. He also enacted a very large tax increase in the hopes that he could make history by closing the deficit and making a surplus, which sent the economy into a recession and did no such thing.

Clinton ran saying "the era of big government was over." Then he gets elected, and immediately the era of big government was back. He said that taxes had to go up because the deficit was there, so he raised them, but then he embarked on trying to spend even more. Then the Congress turned Republican in 1994, so he became pragmatic. He reluctantly agreed to a capital gains tax rate cut in 1997, which increased revenues, and a surplus was achieved in 1998.

The Republican Congress kept Clinton pretty fiscally conservative, that is until George W. Bush became President, then they did a 180 and became big spenders.

Finally, let me just close with one final statement: you've claimed many, many times that most of government spending is 'inefficient' in that it goes to fraud and other such things. Demonstrate this.

Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, the public school system, the Postal Service, AMTRAK, etc...

It is the nature of a government program or agency. Every government program and agency is given a budget and the job of the person heading that agency/program is to spend every single dime, so that then they can claim they need more money the next time around. Inefficiency also occurs because government employees are notoriously difficult to fire, so they have little incentive to work efficiently.

This is the complete opposite of private enterprise, where the job is to spend the least amount of money possible in getting things done, which leads to far more efficiency and less waste.

Programs can also be plundered due to lax oversight, as occurs with Medicare and Medicaid (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/23/60minutes/main5414390.shtml).

If government could spend efficiently, nationalized enterprises would work just as well as privatized enterprises.

 

[edpell]

Don't worry, Obama can spend $10,000,000,000 per year for 10 years with one hand tied to the tele-prompter.

I thought that was 20 trillion dollars of transaction guaranties in one year! The rich must never lose.

Yes, Bloomberg News, only reported 12.8 trillion but I think it has gone up since that report back in September.

 

[edpell]

said sarcastically "it is only fair that the workers of China use their excess production to support the debt spending of Japan and the US". To each according to their ability to each according to their need. LOL LOL LOL

 

[Chalnoth]

I really really really don't get how you can possibly think, Nebula, that the money spent on entitlement and research programs isn't spent.

 

[Nebula815]

I really really really don't get how you can possibly think, Nebula, that the money spent on entitlement and research programs isn't spent.

If the money is spent to utilize research facilities, it goes to the university or government that controls the facilities, and thus not into the economy. If it goes to entitlements, it can go into people's pockets. Again, it depends.

 

[Chalnoth]

If the money is spent to utilize research facilities, it goes to the university or government that controls the facilities, and thus not into the economy.

How are they not part of the economy? If it goes to utilize research facilities, for example, it will by large go to paying upkeep and maintenance for said facilities.

If it goes to entitlements, it can go into people's pockets. Again, it depends.

How? The vast majority of entitlements are services (medical care being the largest).

 

[Nebula815]

How are they not part of the economy? If it goes to utilize research facilities, for example, it will by large go to paying upkeep and maintenance for said facilities.

Certainly. But maybe the facilities are already maintained by other money and the money charged is just used to help offset some of the cost, and is saved by the institution.

How? The vast majority of entitlements are services (medical care being the largest).

I mean via fraud and corruption issues and so forth, which tend to plague government programs.

 

[Chalnoth]

Certainly. But maybe the facilities are already maintained by other money and the money charged is just used to help offset some of the cost, and is saved by the institution.

Do you really think that there are many institutions around that are flush with cash under the current economic conditions?

I mean via fraud and corruption issues and so forth, which tend to plague government programs.

You have never quantified such things, nor shown how they aren't stimulative (e.g. money going to a senator's pet project may be corrupt, but it still stimulates the economy because it's still the government buying something).

 

[Nebula815]

Do you really think that there are many institutions around that are flush with cash under the current economic conditions?

I don't know. A lot of them sure charge a lot of money to attend!

You have never quantified such things, nor shown how they aren't stimulative (e.g. money going to a senator's pet project may be corrupt, but it still stimulates the economy because it's still the government buying something).

If it goes into people's pockets instead of directly to buying things, there is no way to know if it will be stimulative or not.

 

[Chalnoth]

I don't know. A lot of them sure charge a lot of money to attend!

That's your only response? Seriously? Just for one small example, due to the budget crisis in California, the University of California has had to increase its tuition by 32% since this crisis began, just to make ends meet.

If it goes into people's pockets instead of directly to buying things, there is no way to know if it will be stimulative or not.

But where does that happen, precisely?

 

[Nebula815]

That's your only response? Seriously? Just for one small example, due to the budget crisis in California, the University of California has had to increase its tuition by 32% since this crisis began, just to make ends meet.

I meant privately-owned institutions. California's problem is because every time they raise taxes, they increase spending further, so then an economic crises hits and the state goes bankrupt. Although I am not saying private institutions are per se flush with cash either. But I do not see how funding for research programs can stimulate the economy, as the facilities of the university must be maintained regardless of whether research is carried out or not.

But where does that happen, precisely?

Medicare and Medicaid are two. So is the public education system. It is the nature of any government program. To get more money year after year, the program will find ways to waste money. Oftentimes that meanshiring a lot of unecessary people for example.

 

[Chalnoth]

I meant privately-owned institutions. California's problem is because every time they raise taxes, they increase spending further, so then an economic crises hits and the state goes bankrupt.

No, that would be a policy that actually makes sense. California's problem is that it is nigh impossible for the state to raise taxes (requires a 2/3rds majority), but the populace have been crying out for more social services.

Although I am not saying private institutions are per se flush with cash either. But I do not see how funding for research programs can stimulate the economy, as the facilities of the university must be maintained regardless of whether research is carried out or not.

In this case, we'd be talking about labs staying open as opposed to being closed down due to lack of funds.

Medicare and Medicaid are two. So is the public education system. It is the nature of any government program. To get more money year after year, the program will find ways to waste money. Oftentimes that meanshiring a lot of unecessary people for example.

Those don't just hand money to people. The people to whom the benefits are applied never even see the money: it is spent directly on the goods and services in question.

 

[WhoWee]

Those don't just hand money to people. The people to whom the benefits are applied never even see the money: it is spent directly on the goods and services in question.

Medicare and Medicaid DO "just hand money to people".

The current (nation wide) average cost of an individual health insurance policy is about $300 per month and rises to about $800 per month at age 64.

At 65, the cost of Medicare Part B is ($96.40 or $110.50 or more if income exceeds $85K) and an average Medigap/Supplemnt is about $125 per month. A Medicare Advantage plan costs between $0 and $200 per month (as components of MAPD Part D RX is $30 and avg health/medical about $20) $50 average.

In the MAPD scenario, Medicare pays the private insurance company a fixed amount each month ($400 to $800) and the insurance company pays instead of Medicare.

Under the Medigap formula, Medicare pays 80% and the supplement pays 20% (over-simplified).

If the person is Dual Eligible - that is QMB/Full Medicaid and Medicare eligible - the beneficiary pays NOTHING. The personal income QMB threshold was $918/month in 2009. The QMB also qualifies the person for food stamps and other benefits.

To summarize:

Average Health Insurance Costs

Age 35 $300/mos...Age 64 $800/mos...Age 65 $150 (if also Medicaid $0)

 

[Nebula815]

No, that would be a policy that actually makes sense.

Not really. The state already has the highest taxes in the country and is an incredibly harsh environment for businesses, which are causing businesses to flee. It is a vicious cycle that will occur.

California's problem is that it is nigh impossible for the state to raise taxes (requires a 2/3rds majority), but the populace have been crying out for more social services.

California already taxes pretty much everything that one can tax. They also have the most generous entitlements out of any state. The people there do not want their taxes raised, which means they have to understand the limitations of social services. I would imagine the only people who want more social services are those that make it a lifestyle.

In this case, we'd be talking about labs staying open as opposed to being closed down due to lack of funds.

I agree with you if the labs and facilities would otherwise be closed down, there would be a dropoff probably in economic activity in terms of their maintenance, I was talking under the assumption that they stay open regardless.

Those don't just hand money to people. The people to whom the benefits are applied never even see the money: it is spent directly on the goods and services in question.

A lot of people know how to rip off the system, and there is a lot of fraud and corruption that occurs within these programs.

 

[mheslep]

Not really. [California] already has the highest taxes in the country ...

Highest income tax from $47k to ~$175, then NJ, Ha, and Oregon take 1st prize.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/228.html

 

[mheslep]

... California's [...] populace have been crying out for more social services...

No, the prison guard unions and the teachers unions have been crying for continued overly high pay. See, e.g.:
http://legacy.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060228/news_1n28guards.html"
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2004/05/26/359/29521"

 

[Chalnoth]

Medicare and Medicaid DO "just hand money to people".

I don't understanding how paying most of the cost of medical care counts as handing money to people.

 

[Chalnoth]

Not really. The state already has the highest taxes in the country and is an incredibly harsh environment for businesses, which are causing businesses to flee. It is a vicious cycle that will occur.

Hardly.
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/total_taxes/index.html

It's not the lowest, but it is far from the highest. It ranks 17th in total taxes.

I agree with you if the labs and facilities would otherwise be closed down, there would be a dropoff probably in economic activity in terms of their maintenance, I was talking under the assumption that they stay open regardless.

That's not really a valid assumption under the current economic climate.

A lot of people know how to rip off the system, and there is a lot of fraud and corruption that occurs within these programs.

Define "a lot".

 

[mheslep]

Hardly.
http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/total_taxes/index.html

It's not the lowest, but it is far from the highest. It ranks 17th in total taxes.

No. The detailed information is at the link I provided up thread w/ 2009 information. That CNN money link is very out of date - 2002, and the income tax + sales tax composite 'total tax' ranking is not very useful since total sales tax vary by locality and can be avoided by not buying in state, etc, nor is any single figure that useful given the tax rates vary widely by income, as you must already know.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/228.html
From the income bracket starting at $47k/year up well into six figure income, California does indeed have the highest income tax in the United States as of California's 2009 budget agreements. After six figures at least NJ and Hawaii have higher top rate taxes. Ca's non-exempted sales tax rate is also the highest in the country at http://retirementliving.com/RLstate1.html#CALIFORNIA" as of 2009 (other state localities might exceed that).

State Sales Tax: 8.25% (food and prescription drugs exempt. Tax varies according to locality. Can be as high as 10.25%)
Gasoline Tax: * 39.9 cents/gallon
Diesel Fuel Tax: * 44.5 cents/gallon
Cigarette Tax: 37 cents/pack of 20 plus an additional surcharge of 50 cents per pack, bringing the total to 87 cent

The next highest sales tax rate in other states is 7%.

 

[mheslep]

Define "a lot".

$60B/year medicare and medicaid fraud.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/May/09-ag-491.html"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124586523348648621.html" - "By some estimates, more than $60 billion each year is lost to fraud."

 

[Chalnoth]

No. The detailed information is at the link I provided up thread w/ 2009 information. That CNN money link is very out of date - 2002, and the income tax + sales tax composite 'total tax' ranking is not very useful since total sales tax vary by locality and can be avoided by not buying in state, etc, nor is any single figure that useful given the tax rates vary widely by income, as you must already know.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/228.html
From the income bracket starting at $47k/year up well into six figure income, California does indeed have the highest income tax in the United States as of California's 2009 budget agreements. After six figures at least NJ and Hawaii have higher top rate taxes. Ca's non-exempted sales tax rate is also the highest in the country at http://retirementliving.com/RLstate1.html#CALIFORNIA" as of 2009 (other state localities might exceed that).
The next highest sales tax rate in other states is 7%.

At least my link looked at comprehensive tax receipts, instead of cherry picking a few places were California has higher taxes. For example:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/251.html
...where California ranks 27th for property taxes.

Their rankings for total tax receipts places California in sixth in 2008:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/336.html

This is pretty high up there, but it is not at the top.

 

[Chalnoth]

$60B/year medicare and medicaid fraud.
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2009/May/09-ag-491.html"
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124586523348648621.html" - "By some estimates, more than $60 billion each year is lost to fraud."

Only $60 billion? That's a pretty small fraction of the $2.2 trillion spent on medical care in the US. Losing three cents on the dollar shouldn't be a serious deterrent to spending money that needs to be spent.

 

[mheslep]

Only $60 billion? That's a pretty small fraction of the $2.2 trillion spent on medical care in the US. Losing three cents on the dollar shouldn't be a serious deterrent to spending money that needs to be spent.

That's a spurious comparison. The correct comparison is to Medicare and Medicaid spending, for which that loss amounts to much higher than three cents on the dollar. If the entire US health system were run like M&M, we would expect losses to scale to the entire US heath system, as well as trashing the quality of the system.

 

[Chalnoth]

That's a spurious comparison. The correct comparison is to Medicare and Medicaid spending, for which that loss amounts to much higher than three cents on the dollar.

Really? Are you sure? Because the person being quoted there first talked about the total health care spending of $2.2 trillion, and how this large magnitude made it prone to fraud. She didn't specify that the $60 billion was only for Medicare/Medicaid, and given that she was talking about the whole industry, it seems unlikely she was referring only to these.

And she also mentions that the $60 billion number was only by some estimates, by the way: she didn't state whether this was among the high or low end of the estimates.