August 16, 2012 - 9:10 pm
What can I say? Talking taxes with Larry Kudlow and David Limbaugh, I felt like the village idiot. I’m about as expert in taxes as I am in astrophysics. On the other hand, I DO pay them, so I have to know something. Regarding astrophysics, I’m still waiting for someone to explain the Higgs boson.
– anyone?
“This election will be a test of the American public.”
Great insight. Roger, you were fine. It was that loudmouth Cowan who made a fool of himself — as all those who can’t shut up do.
As to the G-d particle, Higgs Boson, I’ve had it explained to me many times by Kudlow’s friend, John Batchelor. However, I’ll see it before I ever understand it.
I watched it live Roger, and I thought you did quite well. Believe me, as anyone that knows me knows that had I thought you stank on ice, I would have said so.
Roger, you did great. Really. You just didn’t get enough time to talk.
You’re right — both topics need to be discussed, and I feel hopeful that the message about Medicare just might get thru.
One thing is, the pubic doesn’t really understand all this stuff about “debt.” I’d bet on that. Oh, they know it isn’t good, maybe very bad … but it’s kind of “out there” for them. They know how it would affect them if they were personally in debt, but is government debt the same? It’ll affect their children and grandchildren in the future? That’s so far away, and politicians have been saying things like that forever.
The question is — for them — what would it mean for them personally.
Will they have to work 4 days out of 5 to pay their taxes? Even if the “rich” wind up paying more? (Which will mean fewer jobs as well?)
What about upward mobility? Will that stop? What would that look like — exactly — what would and wouldn’t happen? (A real specific picture would be very helpful.)
I really think that if Romney/Ryan and other conservatives — maybe on PJ Media — can paint a picture of how the “debt” will affect people in their personal lives — a very specific picture — it would make a big difference.
For instance, will they still be able to afford their cars? What percentage of their income will have to go just to pay rent and food? How about clothes? Leisure activities? Will dinner out and a movie cost half a week’s pay — so would be saved for once a year? Will vacation travel be a thing of the past? Barbeque parties with hamburger meat at $80-$100 a pound? A hot dog at Nathan’s — $50?
How soon? In 5 years? 10? What will our world look like in 2016 with another 4 years of the O as Pres? (That could be another picture.)
Will there be even fewer jobs available to them? Will even more of their kids even be able to go to college with so little prospect of ever being able to pay back the loans? And there is very little money available from Government (as Obama wants to promise them), because Government is broke? He won’t be able to “pretend” to pay the college professors if there’s very little money. It doesn’t come from air.
Just what would that dark future look like — when our credit rating goes down and interest rates go way up? How much will a loaf of bread cost?
The O keeps painting a picture — a false one — but one that looks good to a lot of people. So a real one needs to be drawn for them — in contrast.
A video or two directly related to ruinous debt and the future it would bring, would be nice.
Etc.
I agree, Roger, that both entitlements and economic growth should be talked about. What is most important is the tone. The Romney/Ryan message says we can tackle the problems, that it may not always be easy but we can do it. The Obama message is that we are victims who can’t do anything but blame others. He is afraid that the people will discover their own strengths.
What hope is there for a mature conversation and debate over these serious manners when even like-minded people don’t allow each other to speak. There was at least one point in this segment where Kudlow and his three guests were ALL speaking at the same time!
cowan was hoggin’ – he looked and sounded like an ass and a lot like a lib (btw they had cowan’s talking points already summarized in the crawl before he finished his thoughts)
d limbaugh and r simon were able to reply quickly, succinctly, and coherently