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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous]

hmm..either I have an instantly-recognizable writing style or you're using admin privileges to identify my messages.  I hope the former.

in order:

"introduce that by saying "He's correct on all points,"  please re-read my post.  I did not say that.  You should know, by now, that I'm able to see both sides of an argument, albeit I weight them differently.  apology accepted!

[/quote]

Umm, you referred to me as "Jeff" and I referred to you as "Anonymous". I'm not sure what that has to do with my admin privileges. If your actual name is "Anonymous", I apologize for inadvertently outing you, but I would guess this is not the first time having such a name resulted in confusion.

You may not have said "he's correct on all points", but the original post in this thread did. You seem to have focused on my post without regard to the post to which I was replying. Context is important.

A great number of posters in this forum are capable of seeing both sides of an argument. There is really no reason to pat yourself on the back for that alleged distinction. The fact that some posters -- and I admit to being one -- conclude that one side of the argument is either more factually correct or more aligned with our values does not mean that they are incapable of understanding the other side. Frankly, it is a bit tiring for the so-called "serious" folks to continually suggest that every issue in America has a happy middle ground -- ground of course occupied by those same "serious" folks -- and anyone outside of that middle ground is some sort of fanatic who should be ignored. People are authentically divided on issues. The partisans on each side are right to make their points in the strongest ways possible. To the extent that they can compromise and agree, that's great. But, some issues will simply have winners and losers.

But, let's get back to the article that is the basis of this thread. Niall Ferguson wrote that Obama broke his pledge that healthcare reform wouldn't increase the deficit, saying that the CBO had reported that healthcare reform does increase the deficit. Paul Krugman responded to that claim by correctly pointing out that the CBO reported the opposite. I supported Krugman's argument by pointing out exactly where in the CBO report it says that the ACA will decrease the deficit. Ferguson then responded to Krugman by saying, "I very deliberately said 'the insurance coverage provisions of the ACA,' not 'the ACA.' There is a big difference."  Of course, the insurance coverage provisions go on the expenditure side of the ledger. If you leave out the revenue and cost savings part of the ledger, the deficit will go up. That is not even a point worth discussing because the ACA consists of both sides of the ledger.  It is that argument that I described as demonstrating an "amazing lack of integrity". I would love to see how you, after considering both sides of the argument, could argue otherwise. 
[/quote]

you play a good game of little ball.  maybe a little garrulous, certainly humorless.  and a healthy dose of the schoolmarm.  but very earnest (remember "swimming to cambodia"?  i loved his spaulding gray's riff on earnestness.

i don't think issues are 50/50.  i agree on values informing views (hey...didja notice I just agreed with you?  maybe a wee bit of reciprocity where merited?)

But Nats are tied tonight, and you have a near-religious fervor around your views that just has me wanting to move along.  Yep..YOU WIN!  wtg, jeff.

besides, the numbers are just so staggeringly bad and decaying it makes the rest of this fairly meaningless.  yes, my values.  when a govt is broke and reasonable solutions (simpson bowles for a start) are ignored, what's the point.  bit of epiphany

i'm going back to the important forums..what are the "big 3?"

[/quote]

Jeff, for someone who doesn't care, she sure put a lot of effort into that exit!  Slammed the door three times and looked back twice.  Ha!

[/quote]

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