This is Your Captain, Speaking …

August 6, 2011 | Filed under Barack Obama,Big government,Satire | Posted by

 

 

You may have noticed that Standard & Poor’s has downgraded the credit of the United States, which is why our left wing is now on fire.

Not to worry!

Moody’s has maintained our rating,  so we should be just fine on one wing.

Now it’s true that everyone’s ticket price just went up, as well as the price on any loans or financial transactions you may have or undertake in the future.

We can prepare for this ‘New Reality’ by raising taxes now, to get you ready for the fact that you will have even less money than you do now.  And of course, it’s very important that I, errr, the U.S. Government, continues to have enough “revenue” to meet its vital needs, which are whatever I tell you they are.

Just empty your wallets, give up your dreams, sign over your future, and enjoy the flight.  I’m sure I will figure out this piloting thing before it’s time for you to re-elect me.

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Posted by on August 6, 2011.
Filed under Barack Obama, Big government, Satire.
DJ Drummond holds an MBA with a concentration in Accounting, and has worked in Finance/Credit for 13 years, with 17 years of Operations Management experience before that. He writes on political, religious, and cancer-related issues, with the occasional foray into satire and snark.

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  • Anonymous

    “Just empty your wallets, give up your dreams, sign over your future, and enjoy the flight.  I’m sure I will figure out this piloting thing before it’s time for you to re-elect me.

    “I’d rather crash and burn..

  • jim_m

    “I’d rather crash and burn..

    So would obama apparently.  His sycophants are already putting out he meme of every failed dictator that it wasn’t obama’s fault but the the fault of the ignorant masses.  The left is already saying that obama was right but America wasn’t worthy of him.  Sick.

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      “The left is already saying that obama was right but America wasn’t worthy of him.”

      WTF?  Seriously?

      I made a joke about that a while back, never thinking it’d come to pass…

      They’re right, though – we didn’t deserve Obama, just like nobody ever deserves to be mugged.

  • Anonymous

    This is all about “entitlement reform,” in particular a legalized default on the Treasury obligations for the Social Security retirement fund, paid for by the regressive FICA-OASDI tax on workers earning less than $110,000 or so.  Obama is collaborating in this at the behest of his Wall Street masters.  Now he can say “my hands are tied,” and proceed to screw all of us who paid into OASDI by defaulting on that debt and cutting benefits. It will not be called a default, of course.  Maybe the whole system will be looted.

    Remember – the “IOUs” in the Social Security trust fund are Treasury notes and bills no different than the Treasury notes and bills the People’s Republic of China, Saudi Arabia, and a few hundred foreign and domestic banks hold.  The only difference is that with the SS Trust Fund, the ordinary American worker is the “bondholder.”

    • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

      Commandante,

      Your government in action!  The rest of us stupid, know-nothing right wingers knew that the social security program was a ponzi scheme based on rising populations and would be bankrupt when the boomers retired.  We’ve made other arrangements.  If we get money from Soc. Sec., great.  If not, OK.

      • Anonymous

        I am quite comfortable also, but it’s not all about you and me, is it?   And it’s not a Ponzi scheme unless the Government acts like Ponzi.  Those Social Security Treasury bills should be paid back the same way the ones the Chinese and Saudis own will be.

        Wages for most working Americans are now so low, with health and pension benefits in the private sector almost non-existant, that people don’t have enough money to both live decently, care for their children and save in an IRA.  They face choices like, do they sign up their kid for Pop Warner?  Can they pay tuition at the community college?

        You and I had the benefit of advanced education and high-paid work.  Most Americans don’t, for a lot of reasons including losing the genetic lottery.  Even old people with less than average abilities and consequential lifetime income should be able to live out their lives with some security.

        • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

          Commandante,

          I use the term “Ponzi Scheme” because the “newer investors” pay the “older investors” as was the case in Charles Ponzi’s scheme.  The idea that we were saving the FICA payments for people as they work was always fiction – how else could FDR fund the first recipient? My understanding is that funding Soc. Sec. will require that 4 workers  pay for one retiree and at this point, we will be asking too much of a younger generation.  You and I may be willing to make the sacrifice for the next generation, but there are those who comment on this site who believe that the tax burden on the next generation is immaterial.

          • Anonymous

            FDR is long gone.  Now, we pay for debt service on the SS Trust Fund the same way we pay for other debt service- out of current accounts.

            If debt service is maintained for the SS Fund as it is for the Chinese, it’s good for another 25 years.  There are a lot of ways to preserve it beyond that.

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Commandante,

            “We pay for debt service on the SS Trust Fund the same way we pay for other debt service” – by borrowing the money.  We borrow 43% of everything we spend – that’s what has to stop.  Let’s scale back the size of government.  Even President Obama and the Democrats know they can’t raise taxes – that’s why they extended the current tax rates in December of 2010.  When they say otherwise, it is just “Boob bait for the Bubbas” to quote Daniel Patrick Moynihan (invective directed at our side).

          • Anonymous

            Well, I say cut the wars, and that will go a long way in cutting spending.  There are other things to be cut, like the Dept of Education and Homeland Security, but why maintain a government contractor orgy while gutting SS?
             

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Commandante,

            This is something we can agree on.  Since I have a son serving (Iraq), I would like the troops to come home.  Do I believe that the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan served a strategic purpose?  Yes.  Have we completed that mission? – yes.  It is hard for me to say that I agree with Vice President Biden on anything, I believe that he was correct in the strategy of supporting anti-taliban forces (e.g., Northern Alliance) and give up on nation building.  We don’t need to win in Afghanistan, we just need to keep the Taliban “off balance.”

            I like the whole cutting “Homeland Security” idea – good call.

          • Anonymous

            Agreed.  My props to your son, and a prayer.

      • Frank O’Connell

        Texas Accountant — I read your other comments elsewhere and you claim to be a millionaire! Congratulations on rising above the socialist state imposed on us by the Muslim from Texas!

        You shouldn’t be talking to non-millionaire liberals like Chico. I mean, if they’re wealthy that’s one thing, but you can bet your Rolex that Chico is not wealthy. Look at the way he’s concerned about those filthy “non-rich” americans who, unlike yourself, will need to rely on Social Security in their old age.

        >>”We’ve made other arrangements.  If we get money from Soc. Sec., great.  If not, OK.”

        Yes,  even though you yourself are a millionaire and don’t need Social Security you should take all the SS money you can get your Rolex encrusted hands on… Cause everbody knows that millionaires like yourself got that way by grabbing every dime you can – even if other people need that money to live on — take it out of their G Damned mouths!

        Hobbit Powers Unite!

        • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

          Mr. O’Connell,

          Is my net worth over $1,000,000?  Yes.  However, I live in an 1,800 square foot home in a suburb of a major city.  I never made over 200,000 a year (both my wife and I work), so I guess I am not a “millionaire” according to our president.  My wife and I raised 4 children and have put 3 through college (1 to go!) and, at the same time, saved over 30% of every paycheck. If you do that for 29 years of your working life, you too can be a millionaire (non-Obama version).  By the way, if you read “The Millionaire Next Door,” you will see that most millionaires do not own Rolex’s.

          If your belief is that I should not receive Soc. Sec. because I planned ahead, OK.  But let’s not call it “Social Security.”  It should be called “welfare.”  What is your opinion of people who earned more that I have in life, but demand money from the government as an entitlement? 

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            In addition, Mr. O’Connell, the crystal on my 30 year old Seiko is cracked.  Thanks for your concern about my watch.

          • Frank O’Connell

            No reason to get theoretical. You’re a millionaire and you’re ready and happy to accept Social Security payments.

            Care to explain why someone like you, who doesn’t need the money, would still take ‘entitlements’ even when you don’t need them?

            Mus be that whole ‘entitlement’ mentality.

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Mr. O’Connell,

            I like this “non-theoretical” game!  Let’s keep playing.  I will not take social security benefits if all the rich leftists who are complaining that they pay a lower tax rate than their secretaries (Warren Buffet) just start paying more!  Matt Damon, I’m looking at you!   I believe that the State of Massachusetts has an option for people to pay more taxes if they choose.  Very few do.  You people on the left talk a good game when you play “theoretical,” but not so well on the “non-theoretical.”  I will have to wait to play though, I am not receiving any social security benefits and am not scheduled to receive any for 15 years.  If it exists in 15 years, I can play “non-theoretical.”  Right now, I am doing everything possible to not need it.  In fact, I am trying to do everything possible to avoid medicare as well.  Know very many doctors who will take new medicare patients?  The good doctors won’t.

          • Frank O’Connell

            So.. you have no explanation as to why a millionaire such as yourself would happily accept Social Security payments?

            Seriously, you refuse to answer that question?

            You’ve characterized SS as “welfare, and you apparently believe that millionaires such as yourself are “entitled” to accept welfare… at the same time you whine about socialism, no doubt.

            And at the same time you look down on people who aren’t millionaires but who rely on SS to pay  rent, buy food and medication, etc.

            >>>”You people on the left talk a good game when you play “theoretical,” but not so well on the “non-theoretical.”"

            But here it’s not “theoretical” – it’s a fact that you’re a millionaire and you see nothing wrong with millionaires such as yourself taking advantage of government ‘entitlement’ programs even though you’re not in need financially…?

            You’re ‘entitled’ to accept it and you will, happily.

            You wrote: “You and I may be willing to make the sacrifice for the next generation, but there are those who comment on this site who believe that the tax burden on the next generation is immaterial.”

            Exactly what ‘sacrifice’ are you making?

            And you accepting social security, even though you’re a millionaire, will add to “the tax
            burden on the next generation’ – and you do so happily.

            Looks like Wizbang has found the “Hypocrite of the Month”… but feel safe, Texas Accountant. You’re among a large group of hypocrites just like yourself who bitch about socialism as they happily and greedily accept every penny of government handout they can.

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Mr. O’Connell,

            I don’t mean to be rude, but do you have a reading problem?  I am not eligible for social security and won’t be for 15 years.  I won’t take social security.  How about you?  You call names, but you seem unwilling to step up to the plate.  I challenge you, Mr. O’Connell, only take the amount of money that you put in, plus interest, and forgo any additional social security payments.  Be a man and pay your own way in life.  I said that if you make social security “means tested,” then call it welfare.  The Democrats have made social security a “middle class” entitlement – not me.  So, are you the entitled one?

          • Frank O’Connell

            You change the subject again. How sad, a hypocrite who’s spineless also.

            You said you’d happily accept Social Security payments even though you’re rich and don’t need it.

            And you whine about social security being “welfare” when needy people get it.

            Not much else to say. You’ve been given a chance to explain why you, a millionaire, would have your hand out for welfare at the same time you advocate denying this welfare to people who truly need it.

            Yep. You’re a hypocrite.A rich, slimy, hand in the tax payer’s pocket hypocrite.

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Mr. O’Connell,

            I don’t take soc. security.  How do I have my hand in the tax payer’s pocket.  I am willing to bet that you don’t even pay income taxes (since 49% of Americans do not).  When did I say that I’d “Happily accept social security payments?”  I scroll back and can’t find it.  Help me out.  I didn’t whine, but I did say that if you make social security “means tested,” then call it “welfare.”  Do you know what “means tested” means?  I believe that you have a “logic” problem with your arguments:

            “Not much else to say. You’ve been given a chance to explain why you, a
            millionaire, would have your hand out for welfare at the same time you
            advocate denying this welfare to people who truly need it.”

            When did I have my hand out?  When have I advocated denying it?  If it is “welfare,” then call it “welfare.” 

            I do object to paying anything to people like you who have spent your whole life living beyond your means and then blaming those of us who do not for your problems.  Pay your own bills, Frank.

          • Frank O’Connell

            You haven’t collected Social Security yet, but you’ve already indicated you will do so happily, despite the fact that you’re a millionaire.

            You call it welfare, then indicate that despite your wealth you’ll happily accept the government entitlement.

            I don’t need to call you names. You’ve made it clear what you are… the funny part is that you keep denying what you’re already said.

            Making you somewhat spineless, Naw, you’e full-on spineless. Just another Hobbit loudmouth who talks the “Social Security is socialist welfare” bullshit while happily lining up for your own government handout.

            I’d spit on you, but you’re too busy trying to change the subject and avoid answering questions…

            Questions like why would you accept social security payments even though you admit you’re a millionaire. I asked that a long time ago – are you brave enough to answer it now?

            Come on, little Hobbit. Be brave, stand up for yourself

          • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

            Mr. O’Connell,

            I have a feeling that I struck a nerve with you.  Are you on Disability or something?   I am standing up for myself.  I worked, raised a family, and pay taxes.  I am trying to see where I don’t “stand up for myself.”  Do you pay income taxes?  Do you stand up for yourself?  When I said that “I am working very hard not to collect social security and medicare,” you say that I have my hands in the “taxpayer’s pocket.”  (My own pocket?).  I pay my bills with the money that I earned.  How about you?  I pay income taxes with the money that I earn.  How about you?

    • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EU5DQWQTTHTPO4A4ZYSL3AAV2U Adjoran

      No, the SS “trust fund” is NOT like T-bills at all.  There is no cash value, no secondary market, no ownership, and in fact nothing at all save a bookkeeping entry.  It is not part of the lawful public debt, and its “obligations” can be altered or repealed by law at any time.

  • Anonymous

    IOU’s?  But…but…Al Gore said the “money” was in a “lock box”.

    IF the Super Committee (and Congress) come through the end of this year, there might well be an upgrade.  If the committee fails, look forward to a further downgrade.

    Who knew that spending beyond your means and maxing your credit card would have an effect on your credit rating.  Things like this just don’t happen in the Liberal Fantasyland.

    • Frank O’Connell

      Cause every dime of the debt belongs to Obama. If he wasn’t spending that money in 2000-2008 he was thinking about it!

      Hobbit Powers UNITE!

      • Anonymous

        Yes, he was thinking about it as he finished ‘rules too radical’  and began initiating his dark fantasies.

        But I would say your estimate is a little over the top. He is only culpable for 100% of the 12 trillion since 2008.

      • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/YSM6XGIY2CLRQKYDB746ZVVUUI Texas Accountant

        Mr. O’Connell,

        Let’s make a deal – a repeal trade: we’ll agree to repeal Bush’s prescription drug program (medicare part D) and your side will agree to repeal Obamacare.  

    • http://www.rustedsky.net Anonymous

      Nobody bothered to check the bottom of the lock box… which was easily removable.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Stan25 Stan Brewer

    That lock box had a false bottom to it. Just like a magicians’ box, the real bottom drops out and spills the contents out to the thief. In this case, the thief is the Federal Government. No wonder they had such a hissy fit when Bush wanted to privatize Social Security. If that happened, the thieves could not spill the money out anytime they wanted to.