HELP, please, to respond to a ltte

[elleng]

asserting 'But if the dems get elected they call for a additional 20 trillion in debt added because of Obamacare,so 6 versus 20? Thats an easy vote.'

Thanks.

[DearAbby]

1. I would call the paper to cancel the subscription

for even printing this shit. Gladly tell them to take the paper and wipe their ass with it. That is all it is good for.

[Scuba]

2. +1

[elleng]

4. Sorry, Abby,

the ltte was responding to a very good article about Wayne Powell's recent Town Hall meeting in Culpeper, VA. The paper appears to serve the community by including everyone who writes. Another wrote a 'dissertation' against Lilly Ledbetter/Equal Pay act. Think I'll ignore that one, unless someone comes up with succinct response.

http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2012/aug/19/powell-slams-cantor-open-town-hall-meeting-ar-2140598/#fbcomments

[Ezlivin]

3. But at least additional debt will help lower- and middle-class families

If the citizens' tax money is to be spent, at least it should benefit the majority of citizens.

Romney's plan will spend that money on the wealthy. And he'll gut Medicare and other social safety nets to reach his budgetary goal.

[Downwinder]

5. I can't help.

If the Reps. get elected, they will just start another war to boost the economy. Barring that another bubble.

[VenusRising]

6. Not even close.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/04/09/official-sources-agree-affordable-care-act-reduces-deficit

When the health care bill was passed by Congress, CBO wrote:

“CBO and JCT estimate that enacting both pieces of legislation—H.R. 3590 and the reconciliation proposal—would produce a net reduction in federal deficits of $143 billion over the 2010–2019 period as result of changes in direct spending and revenues.”

When Congressional Republicans sought to repeal the law, CBO found that eliminating the law would increase the deficit. CBO wrote:

“[T]he effect of H.R. 2 on federal deficits as a result of changes in direct spending and revenues is likely to be an increase in the vicinity of $230 billion, plus or minus the effects of technical and economic changes to CBO’s and JCT’s projections for that period.”

And just last month, in updating its estimates of key parts of the law, CBO estimated that the insurance coverage provisions of the health care law would, compared to last year’s estimates for the same time period, cost $50 billion less. Assuming no change to the rest of the estimates, this means $50 billion more in deficit reduction.

[elleng]

7. Thanks, Venus.

Will use this.

[VenusRising]

8. Glad I could help.

[elleng]

9. Venus, she replied with this:

'Ellen G so in 2008 we wre 9 trilion in debt so the government said lets spend another 6 trillion over budget and it will be ok...Will you people please stop it.. The government gets its money from taxes the more thay take the more they spend..Its time to grow up.. If you didn't pay 75 thousand dollars in taxes last year 'You" are the problem ..'

I'm about to respond with something like 'As I recall, in 2008 and prior years, the Bush administration conducted wars off-budget, thought we the people would not notice, and left the next administration to attempt to solve the remaining problems. Since that time, employment has improved, resulting in more resources to attempt to clean up the mess.'

Suggestions?

[renie408]

10. My suggestion would be to not engage with this person at all.

I know it will feel like quitting the field, but you are NOT going to win, whether you are right or not. Simply say that you respectfully disagree and realize that there is no point in attempting to have a rational discussion with this person. Yeah, they will view it as a 'win'. But you are just going to give yourself a migraine trying to score points off this asshole.

[elleng]

11. Thanks.

I think I'd like to respond for OTHERS who may read this paper, in VA's 7th District, so THEY can learn some facts. I won't run it on forever, but these are facts that should be aired there, imo.

[renie408]

12. I understand.

I get into these things all the time. I always wind up wanting to punch the shit out of something. I get the arguing for the OTHER people reading, not the asshole you are actually talking to, but you have to remember that just about all of those people already lean one way or the other. And depending on how they lean, they are going to either root for you or for the other guy.

But I respect wanting to fight the good fight. Good luck!

[elleng]

13. FINE, today! A couple people in the 'neighborhood'

'liked' my responses!

[VenusRising]

14. The person is jumping subjects and isn't really saying where they are getting their information.

Yes, the government gets their money from taxes, but the tax loopholes for the top earners allow them to escape their duties as citizens to pay their fair share. If they were really interested in reducing the deficit, they would be screaming to force corporations like Big Oil to pay up instead of allowing them to get away with paying no taxes even though they use our infrastructure. Not to mention that the the budget for 2009 was proposed under Bush. They want to talk like they know economics, but they continuously try to blame President Obama for everything.

I applaud your patience and fortitude for sticking it out to fight with willfully ignorant people.

[elleng]

15. A couple people who read the article,

and apparently are familiar with her, 'liked' my comments, and one who is actually IN the District (she is NOT!) wrote: Ellen: Unfortunately, you can offer as many fact, figures and reasoned rebuttals as is physically possible, but when you are arguing against someone who's sole reason for voting for someone is their closed-minded ideology, no amount of truth will EVER change their mind. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people like Ms. Phillips out there with their fingers firmly planted in their ears.

I 'liked' his response!

[VenusRising]

16. And that pretty much sums it up.

Good for you, though. At least you know you have a few supporters, even some in the district.

Keep fighting the good fight out there, elleng!

[elleng]

17. Will do, Venus,

and every time I open my FB page, there are more 'likes!!!'