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fandomtownies2011-08-03 01:39 pm
glasses-justice.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomtownies2011-08-03 01:39 pm
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Civics: Failed Amendments, The Community Center, Wednesday Evening
Alex couldn't hide a nagging worry. The PA system hadn't issued any more messages about the mysterious rock that had sent the students away from the cabins, but that didn't necessarily mean that they had been given the all-clear, either. So she set up for class, but distractedly. She'd be seeking out further information afterward, depending on who attended. And, well, who she could pump for information.
"This week is going to be influenced by current events," she explained. "I don't have text for you, I'm afraid, because most versions of this amendment haven't bothered with the precise phrasing, that I've been able to discern. It's more the concept which is approved of."
The only text on the whiteboard behind her was The Balanced Budget Amendment.
"A government which takes in taxes, owns land, or charges for its services will have money coming in," she began. "A government which provides goods or services for its people, has employees, or produces incentives towards particular activities or statuses -- tax reductions for people raising young children, or grants for performing artists being two popular examples -- will have money going out. It takes a great deal of effort to make these two numbers match. In times of economic upswing, that government might be running a surplus -- excess money which might be returned to people wholesale, or banked against future downturns. If spending exceeds income, the government will be running a deficit.
"The United States is currently several trillion dollars in debt, and adding over one trillion each year. Most Americans would agree this is a bad thing. One of the two major political parties would prefer to reduce the debt by increasing taxes. The other would prefer to reduce government spending. Naturally, they've set about locking horns and being uncooperative and ensuring that actual compromise is set aside in favor of name-calling, grandstanding and hair-pulling."
Alex wanted a future in politics, but Alex had no illusions about the process.
"In addition, the United States is also in an economic recession. Plenty of economists disagree on whether raising taxes or cutting spending are good ideas during a recession -- that deficits aren't as important when recovering from an economic blow, since the economy's improvement would increase the overall tax intake and decrease the payouts overall, so far as I understand it. Other economists say that carrying this much debt is slowing the process down, and not the other way around. I have no experience with economics, so I can't speak to that.
"The proposed bills would generally have exceptions allowed for times of crisis, such as war or disaster, so that a balanced budget wouldn't have to come before more humanitarian concerns; the government would have the power to free up money to go to victims of a sudden earthquake without worrying about going into that much debt. Is that enough? Should the law have more flexibility? Should the Constitution be covering government finance? Do citizens' rights include the right to not be in debt, collectively? Let's talk."
"This week is going to be influenced by current events," she explained. "I don't have text for you, I'm afraid, because most versions of this amendment haven't bothered with the precise phrasing, that I've been able to discern. It's more the concept which is approved of."
The only text on the whiteboard behind her was The Balanced Budget Amendment.
"A government which takes in taxes, owns land, or charges for its services will have money coming in," she began. "A government which provides goods or services for its people, has employees, or produces incentives towards particular activities or statuses -- tax reductions for people raising young children, or grants for performing artists being two popular examples -- will have money going out. It takes a great deal of effort to make these two numbers match. In times of economic upswing, that government might be running a surplus -- excess money which might be returned to people wholesale, or banked against future downturns. If spending exceeds income, the government will be running a deficit.
"The United States is currently several trillion dollars in debt, and adding over one trillion each year. Most Americans would agree this is a bad thing. One of the two major political parties would prefer to reduce the debt by increasing taxes. The other would prefer to reduce government spending. Naturally, they've set about locking horns and being uncooperative and ensuring that actual compromise is set aside in favor of name-calling, grandstanding and hair-pulling."
Alex wanted a future in politics, but Alex had no illusions about the process.
"In addition, the United States is also in an economic recession. Plenty of economists disagree on whether raising taxes or cutting spending are good ideas during a recession -- that deficits aren't as important when recovering from an economic blow, since the economy's improvement would increase the overall tax intake and decrease the payouts overall, so far as I understand it. Other economists say that carrying this much debt is slowing the process down, and not the other way around. I have no experience with economics, so I can't speak to that.
"The proposed bills would generally have exceptions allowed for times of crisis, such as war or disaster, so that a balanced budget wouldn't have to come before more humanitarian concerns; the government would have the power to free up money to go to victims of a sudden earthquake without worrying about going into that much debt. Is that enough? Should the law have more flexibility? Should the Constitution be covering government finance? Do citizens' rights include the right to not be in debt, collectively? Let's talk."
Sign In - CIV205
Re: Sign In - CIV205
Arrive and Mingle - CIV205
Re: Arrive and Mingle - CIV205
Discussion #1 - Balancing the Budget - CIV205
Re: Discussion #1 - Balancing the Budget - CIV205
Discussion #2 - Balanced Budget As An Amendment - CIV205
Re: Discussion #2 - Balanced Budget As An Amendment - CIV205
Talk to Alex - CIV205
OOC - CIV205