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Thread: War Bonds for Afghanistan?

  1. #1
    Council Member Anthony Hoh's Avatar
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    Default War Bonds for Afghanistan?

    Dave,
    Should probably rename this thread "float your dumb question here Tony"

    SWJ,
    Could some one tell me why Congress is proposing a tax for OEF..oops I mean "Overseas Contingency Operations" I would just a soon buy a war bond. I dont mean a "Patriot Bond" or any other renamed E series bond that can also go to fund looney toon government programs, a bond that I know goes directly to fund OCO. It seems to me before taxing the reluctant, shouldn't they ask for donations?
    Thanks
    Hoh

  2. #2
    Council Member Fuchs's Avatar
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    War bonds are meant to be paid back, right?
    They're simply issued IOUs with interest rates - debt securities.

    The U.S. already issues many of those (and many end up in China).
    So feel free to buy 'em.

    The binding of income to purpose is an illusion anyway. Every additional $ bound purpose-bound income replaces a $ from the general budget. There's usually no increase in expenses by purpose-bound income, especially not in a situation as the AFG war as the source of income does not change the interests pursued with that war or its costs.

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    Council Member tequila's Avatar
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    Agreed. Debt is debt. You could gussy it up as a "war bond", but on the books it's not any different. Plus the Chinese and the Saudis would probably (and embarassingly) scarf up most of these anyway --- the appetite out there for U.S. gov debt remains massive.

    The fiscally responsible thing to do would be to actually budget and fund spending, but we're not going to do that.

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    Council Member Anthony Hoh's Avatar
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    Thanks
    I never looked outside the immediate purchase and the make me feel better factor. It didnt occur to me that other countries would buy them up and increase our debt. Oh well back to brainstorming, have a great Thanksgiving.

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    Council Member slapout9's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Anthony Hoh View Post
    Thanks
    I never looked outside the immediate purchase and the make me feel better factor. It didnt occur to me that other countries would buy them up and increase our debt. Oh well back to brainstorming, have a great Thanksgiving.
    It is supposed to be a tax on the rich, like the luxury tax in monopoly which is a good idea,the rich have the most to gain so they should pay the most. Now will this really happen.......who knows.

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    Moderator Steve Blair's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slapout9 View Post
    It is supposed to be a tax on the rich, like the luxury tax in monopoly which is a good idea,the rich have the most to gain so they should pay the most. Now will this really happen.......who knows.
    Doubtful. Too many rich Hollywood types would complain. And that might hurt campaign contributions and all the free publicity candidates get from their celeb fans.....
    "On the plains and mountains of the American West, the United States Army had once learned everything there was to learn about hit-and-run tactics and guerrilla warfare."
    T.R. Fehrenbach This Kind of War

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    Council Member tequila's Avatar
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    Rich Hollywood types generally don't mind paying higher taxes. More importantly, they have no political swing and no organized lobby.

    These guys, on the other hand ...

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    Council Member slapout9's Avatar
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    Default Billy Jack Goes To Washington

    Here what Billy Jack would do.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqBynKxAiiI

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    Although it's probably politically impossible, I support the idea of a general "war" tax to spread the burden.

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    Council Member tequila's Avatar
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    As a matter of fairness, I agree wholeheartedly.

    As a matter of COIN best practices, I don't think it's a good idea as far as maintaining domestic support for the war effort. Public support is already teetering. Adding a broad-based tax specifically for the war in the midst of the worst recession in decades sounds like an excellent way to crater it.

    Or perhaps I'm underestimating the American public again?

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    I'm just talking general principle as far as a tax goes, but I think a low tolerance of long-term warfare is a feature of our democracy which is good thing IMO.

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    Council Member Cavguy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tequila View Post
    As a matter of fairness, I agree wholeheartedly.

    As a matter of COIN best practices, I don't think it's a good idea as far as maintaining domestic support for the war effort. Public support is already teetering. Adding a broad-based tax specifically for the war in the midst of the worst recession in decades sounds like an excellent way to crater it.
    And why would that necessarily be a bad thing?
    "A Sherman can give you a very nice... edge."- Oddball, Kelly's Heroes
    Who is Cavguy?

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    Default Fox News

    Last night Fox news launched a poll to canvass opinion regarding taxing the rich to fund the war...perhaps they could tax the major stuidos in return for exclusive film rights later?

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    Council Member Anthony Hoh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slapout9 View Post
    Here what Billy Jack would do.


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqBynKxAiiI
    I am gonna do a write in for Billy Jack in 2012!

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    Council Member slapout9's Avatar
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    Anthony now your talking!

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    Council Member slapout9's Avatar
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    Default Where is Colonel Taylor?

    Where is Colonel Taylor? Read how an Army Colonel saved the USA by telling Lincoln he had the authority to ask congress to just print the money and pay for the War tax free and get rid of all those Tali-Banksters that wanted charge over 30% on War loans. America needs to do this and do it quickly.

    http://www.heritech.com/pridger/lincoln/lin-ken.htm

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