Budget talks: Republicans offer to seek common ground with Democrats

Senior Republicans conceded Wednesday that a deal is unlikely on a contentious plan to overhaul Medicare and offered to open budget talks with the White House by focusing on areas where both parties can agree, such as cutting farm subsidies.

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I expected no less from the Republicans. By demanding that Paul Ryan's Medicare scam be included in the mix, the GOP would have doomed themselves in 2012. There are some areas where common ground can be found, and by hammering home the important areas where cuts can be made, the senior Republicans are forcing the Democrats to see the light. IMHO, this is an excellent move by the GOP, and I fully support it.

Article is here.

It's smart politically, but maybe not in the long-term best interest. The reform plan proposed wasn't going to be the best options for revamping Medicaid/Medicare, but reforms still need to be made.

Entitlements are the elephant in the room. Neither party wants to piss off the electorate, and since sensationalism, lies, and hyperbole reign supreme anytime a controversial bill is presented, it is unlikely that the electorate would truly understand the implications of reforms outside of "they'll leave you poor and destitute on a corner".

This is good to see. The polarization needs to stop and both sides need to work together. I personally think that we must focus, firstly, on the abhorrent pork and earmarks on both sides of the aisle. Cuts need to be made across the board, but I have a problem with legislating to big business' best interest just because they happen to fund a good chunk of our elections.

tessaesque said:

It's smart politically, but maybe not in the long-term best interest. The reform plan proposed wasn't going to be the best options for revamping Medicaid/Medicare, but reforms still need to be made.

Entitlements are the elephant in the room. Neither party wants to piss off the electorate, and since sensationalism, lies, and hyperbole reign supreme anytime a controversial bill is presented, it is unlikely that the electorate would truly understand the implications of reforms outside of "they'll leave you poor and destitute on a corner".

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Right now limiting entitlement spending is not the way to go. It is bad for America. I got an idea, the real "elephant" isn't social spending, rather it is our discretionary spending and our defense budget. Our defense budget needs to go back down to pre 9/11 levels. That would cut the budget down by 400 billion a year. Quit paying ALL OF OUR LAWMAKERS until they actually get some results, or pay them nothing at all. Every single one of them are made men before they make it there, and every single one of them in one way or another benefit in other ways from being in congress. I think there is a certain country we need to cut foreign aide to as well...

I dunno these just seem like "no duhs" to me. Things that everyone can agree on. In the future work to make healthcare reform more comprehensive to save more money on the budget, and eventually they will have to roll back all Bush tax cuts. Look people if you want roads that don't **** up your axel, your gonna have to pay taxes. I hate it, I wish things were free but that **** happens.