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Stop the looney spending. Our growing debt is leading our economy off the edge of a fiscal cliff.
After three days of oral arguments, it looks like the Supreme Court could rule Obamacare unconstitutional. If that happens we might never find out what is in the bill.
As part of the Pentagon’s $487 billion budget cuts the Obama administration’s proposed cutting spending for military families and retirees requiring them to pay more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers’ benefits untouched.
This election season has been riddled with so many scheduled debates, and it's been a roller coaster (or just a regular episode of Survivor) to figure out which candidate will win the nomination.
Social Security Needs a New Plan
Generation-Xers are in a world of hurt—and it just keeps hurting. His home, like more than 11 million other homes, is now worth less than the mortgages on them. College education for his 2.2 children doubles every nine years, with student loan debt surpassing credit card debt for the first time ever in 2011. Retirement is out of reach. His 401(k) has flat-lined. His working-age kids have a 25% youth unemployment rate, the highest ever recorded. And after more than twenty years of playing by the rules and paying into Social Security, it won’t be there for him when he retires. Social Security is greatly underfunded, having promised $7.7 trillion more in benefits over the next 75 years than it can afford to pay with its payroll taxes.
Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement: A Swing and a Miss
Check out our blogpost comparing collective bargaining, public sector and professional sports.
The last of our USA Today Snapshots - a resounding 49% of polled adults believe that Social Security will be partially privatized before it is depleted.
Our latest Snapshot Survey in USA Today! We found 37% of Americans erroneously believe Social Security will continue to be fully funded after 2036. In reality, the SSA ran a cash flow deficit of $49bil in 2010 & reports indicate this shortfall will be the norm by 2017. Learn more, take our Social InSecurity Calculator on www.engageamerica.com.
A resounding 73% of surveyed adults believe that older Americans should NOT sacrifice some of their Social Security benefits to ensure benefits for younger generations, according to our survey in today's USA Today.
Lots to get done this 2012!
When Social Security began there were more than fifty workers contributing into the program for every retiree receiving benefits. Today, there are less than three workers for every retiree receiving benefits.
Just one of the reasons Social Security is heading toward insolvency.
Check out what Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach® has to say about why you (and Congress) should care about fixing Social Security now!
Our EA blogpost: http://www.engageamerica.com/deficit_spendingcomments/why-you-and-congress-should-care-about-fixing-social-security-now/
Then head back to our home page and take the Social InSecurity calculator to do the math for yourself to see how much you're likely to get shortchanged.
EPA: How Economic Flow Is Limited With Jobs Regulation
In trying to develop a solution to fix the American economy , regulation plays a significant role in our methodologies. But at the same time that it protects us, it has a tendency to limit us from our economic goals. Moreover, its costs year after year make it daunting factor in everyday business matters. Find out more about how regulation affects economic goals.
Our EA blogpost: {page_247}comments/how-economic-flow-is-limited-with-jobs-regulation/
Looks like not all turkeys are getting pardoned this Thanksgiving.
Social Security. We all know it's broken. But how much will you be shortchanged?
Find out by taking our Social InSecurity Calculator on our homepage. While you're there, also take a moment to vote on various ways to help save Social Security for future generations.
Need we say more?
It's no secret that special interest groups and lobbyists from both corporate and the public sector spend vast sums of money to be heard by Congress. So it’s no surprise that members of the powerful “super committee” in charge of finding more than $1 trillion in deficit reductions would receive huge fundraising gains.
According to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, “Super committee members saw an increase of 62% in PAC contributions compared to the same quarter in 2009.” (eng.am/vOtPNc)
Talk about your pocket full of kryptonite.
Last week the Federal Reserve announced that it would be holding off on any new actions because the brighter economic outlook is allowing it time to gauge the impact of the steps already taken. Fed policymakers made this announcement after two days of meetings, projections, and economic forecasts. Although these meetings were behind closed doors, here is an artist's rendering of the events.
Is Rhode Island the proverbial canary in the coal mine when it comes to unfunded pension liabilities? Ohio shares some distressing similarities to Rhode Island, where insolvency threatens the entire state.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/national/comments/lessons_in_liability_what_ohio_can_learn_from_rhode_island/
Happy Halloween!
Taxes, Regulations and Uncertainty: When Life Gives You Lemons, Manufacture Demand
U.S. economic growth is staggering toward a second recession because of unsound political ideas and shortsighted implementation of ideological policies. While there are those that insist that our economic problems stem from rising taxes, ever-growing regulations, and mounting uncertainty, the real fundamental problem is lack of demand.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/deficit_taxes/comments/taxes_regulations_demand/
Public Sector Union Compensation: Not Just a Red or Blue State Issue
Wisconsin & New York have both attempted to resolve the public sector union fair compensation issue in different & unique ways.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/national/comments/public_sector_union_compensation_not_just_a_red_or_blue_state_issue/
Protesters have been occupying Wall Street for nearly a month now, prompting the news media to label them everything from a disorganized mob to anti-American anarchists. The main criticism of the protest is the lack of a coherent message, something once hurled at the Tea Party early on in its inception. Which leads to the question: if both movements preach similar messages, how different from each other are they?
Job Creation - A Game Of Chance?
There's the American Jobs Act, the Republican opposition, and now even Starbucks has begun their own initiative to help create jobs and stimulate the economy. The proposals being put forth are like slot machines, they are aimed to provide the American people with a small gain for a short time. However, employment, economic growth and stability, the proverbial jackpot, is still far away.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/deficit_spending/comments/Job_Creation_With_The_American_Jobs_Act_Its_Still_A_Game_Of_Chance/
American Jobs Act: A Bridge Too Far, With Not Enough Focus To Complete It
U.S. economic growth is staggering toward a second recession because of unsound political ideas and shortsighted implementation of ideological policies. While there are those that insist that our economic problems stem from rising taxes, ever-growing regulations, and mounting uncertainty, the real fundamental problem is lack of demand.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/deficit_spending/comments/american_jobs_act_a_bridge_too_far_with_not_enough_focus_to_complete_it/
Is America failing to make proper investments by disproportionately spending on health insurance?
Fifty years ago, America was focused on investing in its future; today we are focused on protecting our past. In 1962, for every dollar the federal government spent on insuring the general population*, it spent over four times that amount on programs such as education, infrastructure and research. Today, number has completely flipped.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/deficit_spending/comments/disproportionate_spending
New budget legislation is sweeping through the state of Wisconsin. However, not every district in the state can apply the legislation to their budgets due to previous union contract restrictions. Where the legislation is in place, districts are thriving. Where it’s not, districts are faltering.
What Deficit Reductions?
The Budget Control Act of 2011 does not control America’s skyrocketing debt. Though the bill reduces projected budget deficits by $2 trillion over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office projects that by 2021 federal debt will be over $20 trillion.
Tough Budget Deal = Positive Outcome for Students
Compensation reforms by teachers have already begun to fulfill its promise. School Districts around the state, like the Kaukauna District, are fixing their budget, saving jobs, and providing children with smaller class sizes.
Our EA blogpost: www.engageamerica.com/national/comments/wisconsins_savings/
