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Obama, Christie in war of words over entitlements

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    Does safety net create couch potatoes or help folks pursue the American Dream?

  • Duration 8:52
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As spending on entitlements so -- the new debate are they doing damage to America.

New Jersey governor Chris Christie says yes.

Never -- to eat less optimistic time in my lifetime in this country.

And people wonder why.

I think it's really simple.

It's because governments -- telling them stop streaming.

Stop striving.

Will take care because in the American people no longer believe that this is a place where only their willingness to work hard.

And to act with honor and integrity.

And ingenuity.

Determines.

Their success in life.

Then we'll have a bunch of people sitting on the couch.

-- form the next government check.

Meanwhile president Obama's saying entitlements help people pursued the American dream.

And the idea that together we built this safety net.

This base of support that allows all of us to take risks and to try new things and maybe try get a new job because.

Because we know a bit there's there's base that we can wrong.

So who's right the president or the governor hi everybody I'm -- -- sunny welcome to cash NN.

It's our captain and crew this week Wayne Rogers Jonathan Hoenig Tracy Byrnes John -- -- also joining us this big democratic consultant.

-- -- -- so welcome to all be Tracy kick it off with you do you think entitlements.

Are saving are killing the American dream I am not I am sickened FitzGerald people are sitting around waiting for their next check -- From fiscal year 2008 to 2011 we -- welfare recipients increased 17%.

Over the same period we spent sitting 5% more on unemployment checks that go out so what does that tell you it's telling you that more and more people from the government dull.

More people sit around waiting for their loan to be -- modified mortgage modifications are all the rage.

Look stop you know all of us sitting at this table here and Jonathan -- and I'm sure two outs and we made.

What we're doing to our people weighing that is the question here is that entitlements really -- in the country -- up 46 million people -- that are actually.

Getting you know nutritional assistance or food stamps a few well -- mean does that make sense and.

More for this for this nation well the fact of the matter is it's grown enormously.

I mean since 2005.

It's grown -- over 300%.

Since 200943%.

I'm talking about food stamps you -- about the food stamp program.

And the abuse of these programs.

Grows mean it absolutely with it just had -- hand in glove in other words the federal government can't do with anything right.

And everybody abuses the program and they say oh we have to invent some other groups of people who go out try to catch the people who have abused the program of the program is so -- to stock -- Yes there is a good reason to have some so what other program like that.

But when his run rampant like this where there are more people getting money from the government then people who are paying into the government.

You've got a state that is -- so corrupted I don't know how you stop it I mean we have to ever revolution when they in this country -- so well.

We might fell and you Jillian here's the thing and and not to pick on -- -- program but our ours you know snap if you will.

But the projections for fiscal year 2012.

Kind of frightening here it's gonna cost about 85 billion dollars so it's not just the cause but it's also what are we teaching.

Americans it is right and wrong.

While I grew Tracy and -- that we certainly want to carve -- the abuse and we certainly don't want people that don't need to be getting these benefits getting them.

On the other hand a lot of people.

They get the benefits for example to -- what happened last recession which was no fault of their own.

These are people that need the benefits unemployment benefits for example fortified people that are getting unemployment benefits are vigorously trying to find work right now.

And you know you point to food stamps and unemployment benefits the real cause of our foreign financial problems for the Medicaid Medicare problems.

And that you know our entitlement spending is gonna it together with debt service is gonna take up over 70% of federal spending -- track to do that.

What we really need to do is reform the health care entitlements Medicaid Medicare.

President Obama you know -- you -- brought him defending -- he is a guy that came forward that with a proposal last August it was very close to Simpson Bowles.

That said we got a cut four trillion dollars suspending.

Will do it through 33.

Trillion in cuts and a trillion in tax and and trillion -- tax reform -- and the Republicans rejected it.

I think you Madonna then overall governor Christie's point that it was making here is that.

We are too dependent on entitlements we're not living the American dream we're no longer pursuing the American dream we got lazy right is he right.

Right.

Well the basic issue here is that of individualism which governor Chris he advocates and collected as them which the president now about pain in my opinion -- the president.

President Obama's vision of the American dream is dead were eight I mean what's always made this country unique is that the individual is put above the collective we're not here to serve out that if you're the king of the church have in your life belongs to you so entitlements destroy that Freeman freedom they say that.

No you can't pursue your life your liberty your happiness you're here to serve the greater good that's exactly impediments are about exactly what the president -- That's a good -- that's isn't what it -- John -- there's tackled an apartment says that snap but again that -- food stamp program.

Actually you know -- believes poverty in this country actually boost incomes may be artificially.

But it's doing some good.

I would argue that the president and the governor respectfully are both wrong other reason what -- talks about a revolution.

The reason we're given out so many food stamps in this exactly tracks poverty forget about the abuse that the -- problem here is up poverty levels.

But the reason that we're paying these people -- -- -- extending a long term unemployment benefits is so that I've heard is not a revolution that there is not people uprising in the street -- basically paying people but the point is not for the fact that we have long term unemployment benefits the problem is people don't have jobs I know you can take the example of people is that an account somewhere -- Americans I don't wanna work but for the most part Americans are not bombs.

They don't want a check from the government they want a job -- what the government has done because Republicans and Democrats hate each other so badly.

They're not passing budget reform they're not passing what Julian says -- Medicare Medicaid reform.

They're not the only time a tax reform -- no energy policy that is the problem in America what we're talking about here are symbols and that is the -- these Americans.

-- 120 billion Tracy an unemployment in -- -- 2000 Lebanon.

What -- billion dollar hanging out on the side if I do you get a job now a sudden we're starting to hear things like the Buffett rule and taxing the rich and so.

Now I'm thinking -- I don't make too much money anymore because if I do I'm gonna get -- six ways til Tuesday so you're getting hit on both ends.

Which comes back unfortunately to a governor Christie's talking about.

The incentive is gone on I don't -- -- be a millionaire because I'm gonna get tax because -- the government's going to be there for you.

Well led the idea is -- told bill you've heard say this before quote in the 1831 wrote that Americans are more interested in it equality than they are and freedom.

And of course that's one of the problems that we won an egalitarian society in which -- There's nobody who excels because somehow you -- guilty if this guy makes more than this guy and you get out.

And the whole attitude of that which is what I think Christie was talking about more than anything else.

Is is not something -- is it could do -- due to a two -- and what we -- -- is the basis of western civilization drug hitting -- reality -- there -- and.

So what let's just -- get this a dose of reality here.

Republicans and Democrats too conservative and and liberal economists all support.

The ideas of unemployment insurance and food stamps -- Republicans are on record voting port for the reasons that John laid out.

To make the claim that Democrats -- the president or somehow endorsing or encouraging a welfare state is just wrong.

President Obama cut 500 billion from Medicaid Medicare the biggest part of our entitlement problem during the health care debate.

He also some -- being proposed major reforms in both Social Security Medicaid Medicare.

So he got in the early proposed reform we need to get -- products and the only reform would be what you have you performed getting rid of Medicaid -- Medicare.

Yes because OK we know you weren't actually remember it that's not starting point John because no it's -- well where -- -- money they went on a clinic or throwing at.

You get the president advocates a safety net we only the safety net there is no safety and the safety net that's the whole point looked to Greece and talk to -- diabetics now who aren't getting their insulin.

Because the Greek government isn't paying the bills we talk about that the value of the safety net there is no safety net you -- nothing that's why needs to be done away with that's the only moral and practical some guys nobody brought up here until the end of it it's got sick guys thank you very much very action this.

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