% b+ K7 w E K2 y# K0 H" E美國要削減債務，得設法開源節流，但民主黨拒絕削減福利支出節流，惟恐基層苦上加苦，共和黨則不肯加稅，稱這窒礙投資和創造就業、令經濟雪上加霜。其實，兩黨可透過短期措施令美國暫時避過倒債，問題是，奧巴馬逼兩黨一次過傾掂數，確保明年大選期間不會出現瀕臨倒債的情況。5.39.217.76* H0 G9 u' |$ A
7 m3 ^. r. H z7 h5.39.217.76關於美國愈來愈有可能違約賴賬的問題，實在沒有多少法子可以正面視之。不過，我必須承認，看著那麼多一直拒絕面對現實的人突然間蘇醒過來，覺察到事件的瘋狂之處，如此鬧劇實在有點幽默味道──一點黑色幽默的味道。tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb2 |5 F3 `" v2 y, F" R5 u
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對於共和黨人不可理喻的行為，部分評論家看來非常錯愕。他們問：「共和黨瘋了嗎？」TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。$ k, I( M+ l, C- v7 |) ]
4 @ c" |$ W8 T; ktvb now,tvbnow,bttvb這個當然，他們的確瘋了。但這不是突然發生的事，而是數十年日積月累過程的結果。任何人若對於他們如今表現出的極端性及不負責任而感到意外，要麼就是一直沒留心，要麼就是故意視若無睹。 ( D+ D) o4 l) _+ ~+ ]' H' F5.39.217.76& g1 v; x( F1 \ | 奧巴馬減赤方案非常右傾TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。+ E- [# b- E1 k
同時，對於那些突然憂心美國其中一個政黨是否腦筋出了問題的人，我想對他們說：那個黨今天弄到如斯田地，你這類人也要負上部分責任。 ( |- W# p" E9 A! T+ hTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 ) x0 K( X/ C* ?2 X5.39.217.76讓我們先花少許時間，談談共和黨領袖拒絕接納什麼方案。 # U. t: m; C& x% D7 d5 N' |# ^" S! m Z
總統奧巴馬清楚表明，他願意接納的減赤協議，絕大部分是削減開支措施，當中包括大刀闊斧削減主要社會福利計劃，甚至連提高享有聯邦醫療保險計劃（Medicare）的年齡限制亦包括其中。這是非比尋常的讓步，正如《紐約時報》的西爾弗（Nate Silver）指出，奧巴馬提出的方案非常右傾，並非一般美國選民所願──若論右傾的程度，相信連一般共和黨選民也有點吃不消。但共和黨卻說不。事實上，他們威脅，若達不到完全一面倒的協議，就會迫美國走上違約之路，制造經濟危機。這種反應完全是意料中事。 $ x ^, u- F" U1 N8 Z$ N5 l5.39.217.765.39.217.76- L: {5 s( o% P5 }
首先，現代共和黨基本上不接受由民主黨出掌白宮的合法性──隻要是民主黨人，他們都不接受。克林頓時期是這樣，奧巴馬入主白宮的一刻開始也是這樣。因此，無論總統想做什麼，共和黨人必然反對，即使他們以往曾支持類似的方案。同樣是前麻省州長羅姆尼（Mitt Romney）的醫療計劃，改由出掌白宮的那個人推行，就變成侵害美國自由的暴政。共和黨亦以相同的邏輯，對待奧巴馬提出的債務方案。 , r8 s5 U, _% c6 l) Z公仔箱論壇 : j* a2 }5 j7 ?9 K換一個演繹方式：若一名共和黨總統幾經艱苦，爭取到像奧巴馬目前在聯邦醫療保險計劃及社會福利計劃所提出的讓步，將被視為保守派的勝利。然而，當這些讓步包括輕微增加收入的附帶條件，以及更重要的是，當它們是由一名民主黨總統提出時，就變成一個以征稅扼殺美國經濟活力的方案，絕對不能接受。除此之外，共和黨已經被巫術經濟學（voodoo economics）所支配。 * E! r- E7 D( Q6 l# _- s+ G& ^8 Rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb " F, k; \; s- K) z* u公仔箱論壇自前總統列根成為拉弗曲線（Laffer curve，闡釋稅率增加與政府收入關系的理論）的信徒后，供應方面的巫術經濟學（聲稱減稅自會達致收支平衡，以及�或任何形式的加稅將導致經濟崩潰）就成為共和黨內一股重要力量。但以往，耍巫術亦有個限度，列根本身就曾大幅加稅，相當大程度地抵消了最初的減稅作用。TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 Z# S- V4 y. o1 M0 n( I
tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb0 O0 e* [- X6 j/ F/ l4 e. h 盲目支持減稅有代價TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。6 ` u" r6 c2 T
即使前總統喬治布殊政府也表現克制，沒有夸夸其談減稅的神奇魔法。這某程度上因為他害怕，一旦作出此等聲稱，會令人質疑其政府的嚴肅性。但最近，他們變得肆無忌旦﹔事實上，共和黨不容許任何克制表現。參議院少數黨領袖麥康奈爾（Mitch McConnell）去年斷言，布殊的減稅政策實際上令收入增加（這與事實完全相反），並聲稱「這基本上是所有共和黨人對這議題的看法」。這的確是真的，即使廣被視為2012年總統候選人提名戰中最理智的競逐者羅姆尼，也支持減稅實際上可以減低赤字的觀點。 2 l* h9 N* `/ \4 ~% X* c5 F+ A 8 ^$ n. i$ t' V公仔箱論壇說到這裡，我就要談談那些到了今時今日才正視共和黨瘋狂行為的人，解釋他們為何責無旁貸。 , g: k. X9 |* p5 O& \2 `7 L公仔箱論壇tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb" S( L+ _" ?" @* F" m
原因在於：若有任何跡象顯示，盲目支持減稅是要付出代價的﹔若局外人積極譴責那些立場不負責任之輩，那麼，共和黨內一些對盲目支持減稅感到不安的人，也許會擺出較強硬的姿態加以抗衡。但盲目支持減稅卻不用付出代價。布殊糟蹋掉克林頓臨近卸任時積累的財政盈余，但具影響力的專家卻妄稱，當前的債務問題兩黨要負上相同責任。眾議院預算委員會主席瑞安（Paul Ryan）提出所謂的減赤計劃，包括給企業及富裕人士大幅減稅，卻因為「對財政採取負責任態度」而獲獎。 * s3 s" D; H/ f6 ?' X7 J5 X 5 x+ f8 S, m* Y, f由此可見，共和黨沒受到任何壓力，因此可以表現得不負責任，甚至不可理喻﹔一如所料，他們走上極端。若閣下感到意外，這意味著問題某程度也出在你的身上。作者: felicity2010 時間: 2011-7-17 04:12 AM
本帖最後由 felicity2010 於 2011-7-17 04:16 AM 編輯 * U6 t+ I) T% U3 K
2 y1 A( B# e: B0 X7 l, k% [! l Issues Holding Up Debt Ceiling Agreement The New York Times . i- H% c" L, t% @tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。# s4 t- h! K/ m/ }' F9 J# o
4 t+ e/ e" d1 _# W& a2 l3 M* A公仔箱論壇As the deadline to raise the debt ceiling looms, many Republicans are demanding changes in benefit programs as a condition of increasing the debt limit.Congressional Democrats oppose cuts, but President Obama has pushed for a sweeping budget agreement that aims to save $4 trillion over 10 years through a combination of spending cuts and new tax revenues. Q# Y3 N* b: Y4 L; |3 @- L/ }& T
. I* E! n$ f8 f: f! j: N8 C3 W Medicare. V& Z3 D4 U& m% U0 ]# U. A2 g
9 c0 ~$ o3 I2 H d( G& L) G5 b公仔箱論壇Issue Medicare spending is expected to increase to $970 billion in 2021, from $520billion in 2010. Officials have said that the program, which provides healthcare to people 65 and older, is not sustainable in its current form.5.39.217.76/ } S, g, F# ~4 e8 S
5.39.217.76. e5 }* O u8 ~3 E6 R What the Democrats say Mr. Obama has offered to slow the growth of Medicare spending, possibly by as much as hundreds of billions of dollars over 12 years and more than $1 trillion in the following decade, by leveraging Medicare’s buying power. But he has not provided details.Many Democrats see Medicare cuts as undermining their political case against the House Republican plan to turn it into a “voucher” program. : y4 J( m6 ~; f1 l , m/ C' Q+ n, b, {( zWhat the Republicans say Earlier this year,Representative Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin proposed a plan to give future beneficiaries a fixed amount of money to buy private insurance. On Tuesday, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia presented 27 proposals that he said would save up to $353 billion over 10 years. They include charging co-payments for laboratory tests and home health care, and increasing charges to high-income beneficiaries. 0 @+ Z5 E5 m8 Z7 m公仔箱論壇) M7 N$ v& }$ I; @
# ?$ ^8 p% _8 I5.39.217.76Medicaid5.39.217.766 a' `! e( J: P7 |& d+ Z; I
4 l0 a4 W* |- w7 b# o! M! d Issue Federal spending on Medicaid, the nation’s low-income health program financed jointly by the federal government and the states, is expected to increase to$560 billion in 2021, from $273 billion in 2010. The Obama administration injected billions of dollars into the program as the recession deepened two years ago.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。$ D$ u: E% ?' b
L8 T ^- w4 D( y7 u 5 Q, _, U( R% Z8 @ j; T8 Q% K公仔箱論壇What the Democrats say White House officials have indicated that they could accept savings of $100 billion or more over 10years, much to the dismay of many House Democrats. Critics say the cuts would impair access to care for the poor and shift costs to the states, which are facing a large expansion in Medicaid eligibility and enrollment, scheduled to start in 2014 under the new health care law. + W2 S) ^ w" R2 W8 l3 }1 o 7 @( H* F. o# A% U' bWhat the Republicans say The proposal by Mr.Ryan called for transforming Medicaid to a block grant, with a lump sum of money given to each state, an idea opposed by Democrats. He said his plan would save $771 billion over the next decade. Mr. Cantor on Tuesday proposed $100billion in savings from Medicaid over 10 years, the same amount sought in a White House proposal.公仔箱論壇1 r' H( h6 s0 p# ~$ X
. H. E D1 e9 Z9 y c% [1 dtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbSocial Security ) L- [& P, i! d$ T/ D k公仔箱論壇5.39.217.760 k+ C& W4 ?: n/ m' _9 I% d, D4 c
Issue Spending on Social Security, which comprises more than a fifth of the federal budget, is projected to rise to $1.3 trillion in 2021, from $701 billion in2010. In May, the Social Security Administration estimated that under current law the program’s trust fund would be exhausted by 2036. ) d+ X) f: ~- M$ H! U9 T# Ktvb now,tvbnow,bttvbtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb6 E' x% H/ }. T& D. h+ D6 C- \9 I What the Democrats say Mr. Obama has expressed interest in large savings from the use of a different measure of inflation to reduce the annual cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security benefits. But Congressional Democrats have joined with lobbyists for older Americans to oppose the changes, saying that Social Security is not the cause of the deficit. : u) q# Q. L5 n6 e5 j3 ]公仔箱論壇4 l3 O* ^6 @% _! b# s What the Republicans say Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has said he supports the idea of an alternative measure of inflation,known as the chain-weighted version of the Consumer Price Index, on the ground that it is more accurate. Lobbyists for older Americans criticized this proposal, which could reduce federal spending by more than $110 billion over 10 years. , N8 p' {/ Q9 `: f4 c4 V; \TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 4 ^* w" Y( |9 p; _" Z% T7 i6 ]5.39.217.76Tax revenuesTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。/ _8 j& C/ w& L0 h) f
. ?( s/ ^: _4 O3 ^% ~1 ?5 U) U Issue In 2001 and 2003, Congress passed tax cuts proposed by President George W. Bush,which were set to expire at the end of 2010. President Obama reached a deal with Republicans to extend the cuts at all income levels for two years. Whether to let the cuts expire for any income group and how to close corporate loopholes have been points of contention in the negotiations. ' e' Q) n \ ~+ d* Z( g. n & R4 V7 Q$ X, \* O% h8 m$ VTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。What the Democrats say Mr. Obama has called for allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire for top earners, but noted that the change would not take effect before 2013. The White House has also proposed closing loopholes or other tax breaks for owners of corporate jets, oil and gas companies and hedge funds, changes that could raise about $130 billion.7 ]/ u. [/ j3 Q0 c4 G
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。% T9 ^, w8 p" p( ]9 m% @3 N5 m7 o
$ ~: \/ ?6 o+ D9 \3 T公仔箱論壇What the Republicans say Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio had indicated willingness to consider $1 trillion in new revenue, with most of the money to be generated through an overhaul of the tax code. But he backed away from that plan when it drew criticism as a potential tax increase and he has declared any tax increases off the table.作者: felicity2010 時間: 2011-7-17 04:17 AM
本帖最後由 felicity2010 於 2011-7-17 04:19 AM 編輯 6 @$ |+ r1 J S5 ~- [# U# e1 S5.39.217.76 & [- \- y" ~) vHouse Republicans Plan Vote on Deficit + i& g! \4 X2 O' F5.39.217.76TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。1 V7 g) J- V0 i
By CARL HULSE and ROBERT PEAR July 15, 2011% A% m6 a x, \# k2 J$ S, p4 [
; l4 r! y |4 {, c/ N 8 r2 b+ R) F* H0 ?3 C7 o公仔箱論壇TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。! e/ C- u( F% r T9 ?4 b
With budget negotiations with the White House stalled, Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio said Friday that the House would vote next week on a three-part plan to cut the deficit, cap federal spending as a share of the economy and amend the Constitution to require a balanced budget.公仔箱論壇) A. o7 W- r. z$ K) X J0 l
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The plan, which has a companion in the Senate, would represent the House position in the final stages of the debate as the federal government nears the limit of its borrowing power. While it would not appear to have a chance of passing the Democrat-controlled Senate, and President Obama is opposed, it could provide a legislative avenue to increasing the debt limit as it makes it way through Congress. / O$ h% U& m* l6 G9 V) q! c5.39.217.76公仔箱論壇+ k8 u3 _, _1 F
The House Republican leader, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, said the House would move on its own because the president’s deficit-reduction proposals fell far short of what was needed. ; y' G! n* {7 b1 ~' v1 C' Z- fTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。. v! d8 b* A& x3 H( _ S" f
In the budget blueprint passed by the House this year, Mr. Cantor said, “We sought$6.2 trillion in cuts over 10 years.’’ By contrast, he said, in debt negotiations at the White House this week, “the president and Democrats have offered perhaps $1.5 trillion of savings.’’公仔箱論壇: [, l; S" \) x+ h! A
/ ^, C$ z5 W7 @* R2 G+ |( ftvb now,tvbnow,bttvbMr.Cantor pushed back against Democratic complaints that the Republicans had not offered any concessions, but he said the Republicans would not permit federal spending to continue on its current trajectory.; k% O- P3 Z7 |/ `# [
3 `7 R/ b/ p0 r, ~“We are not going to allow this kind of spending to continue,’’ Mr. Cantor said.“We don’t have the money.’’ + |! U+ d& K J- N$ | M& q + U. S; X; k) f4 O( i& H I, |5 T/ [公仔箱論壇Mr.Boehner left the door open to the compromise plan floated by the Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has described his proposal as a last-ditch option. It would call for Congress to vote on whether or not to disapprove a debt limit increase, an approach that could avoid a government default by allowing Republicans to register their disapproval of the increase but still allowing it to pass.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb% B$ E% Z# z& u$ A+ c% Z2 g3 T
: ~6 o- L/ S Q5.39.217.76“We are far from the time for a last-ditch effort,’’ Mr. Boehner said, signaling that Congress still had many days and perhaps weeks of work to do on the debt.
