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Cost of Government Index
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Government & Elections
Cost of Government Index
<font face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">With elections coming up, there&rsquo;s no shortage of dialogue here. Whether you're a red state Republican or a blue state Democrat, everyone is welcome &mdash; just remember to be civil.</font>
There is a great deal of debate regarding the size of the government.&nbsp; Many people argue the government is too large while others argue it is too small, but a good deal of this discussion is bas
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Cat:d51398b3-89f9-463d-bf1b-4b885f02c9eeForum:af978875-5bc6-4b07-a6fb-b18062132f95
Cat:d51398b3-89f9-463d-bf1b-4b885f02c9eeForum:af978875-5bc6-4b07-a6fb-b18062132f95Discussion:8c9f037a-f7cc-4720-9f80-e9c517509b44

Forums » Politics & Society » Government & Elections » Cost of Government Index

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Forums  »  Politics & Society  »  Government & Elections  »  Cost of Government Index

Cost of Government Index

posted at August 13, 2012 4:57 PM EDT
Posts: 5
First: August 13, 2012
Last: August 17, 2012

There is a great deal of debate regarding the size of the government.  Many people argue the government is too large while others argue it is too small, but a good deal of this discussion is based on misinformation and guesses.  This is why we created the Government Burden Index, Government Leverage Index, and the Cost of Government Index (COGI).  They are calculated as follows:

  • Government Burden Index for a fiscal year  = State, Local, and Federal Government Revenues / GDP
  • Government Leverage Index for a fiscal year = Net Deficit or Surplus in State, Local, and Federal Governments / GDP
  • Cost of Government Index (COGI) for a fiscal year = Government Burden Index + Government Leverage Index (already in GDP terms)

The Government Burden Index measures how large of a slice Government directly takes out of the economy.  Because it measures all revenues it will include not only taxes but income from tickets, real estate leasing, permits, etc.

The Government Leverage Index is a measure of how much debt, as a percentage of GDP, the government adds to the United States Balance sheet in any given year.  While these costs are not immediately felt they have a very real cumulative effect on citizens.  A negative reading on this index would mean that government debts were reduced during that given year and an increase would mean government increased its debt over the prior year.

The Cost of Government Index (COGI) measures the total impact of government for a fiscal year in terms of GDP.  An increase in this index means that government had a larger fiscal impact in a given year over the prior year, while a decrease would mean government had a smaller impact.  It allows for year-over-year comparisons as to the overall impact of government.

*Graph of Indexes

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 14, 2012 2:29 PM EDT
Posts: 471
First: December 21, 2011
Last: May 20, 2013
Based upon those charts, the present course doesn't look too good. We really cannot afford 4 more years of the same.
 Response to Cost of Government Index:
There is a great deal of debate regarding the size of the government.  Many people argue the government is too large while others argue it is too small, but a good deal of this discussion is based on misinformation and guesses.  This is why we created the Government Burden Index, Government Leverage Index, and the  Cost of Government Index (COGI) .  They are calculated as follows: Government Burden Index  for a fiscal year  = State, Local, and Federal Government Revenues / GDP Government Leverage Index  for a fiscal year = Net Deficit or Surplus in State, Local, and Federal Governments / GDP Cost of Government Index (COGI)  for a fiscal year = Government Burden Index + Government Leverage Index (already in GDP terms) The Government Burden Index measures how large of a slice Government directly takes out of the economy.  Because it measures all revenues it will include not only taxes but income from tickets, real estate leasing, permits, etc. The Government Leverage Index is a measure of how much debt, as a percentage of GDP, the government adds to the United States Balance sheet in any given year.  While these costs are not immediately felt they have a very real cumulative effect on citizens.  A negative reading on this index would mean that government debts were reduced during that given year and an increase would mean government increased its debt over the prior year. The Cost of Government Index (COGI) measures the total impact of government for a fiscal year in terms of GDP.  An increase in this index means that government had a larger fiscal impact in a given year over the prior year, while a decrease would mean government had a smaller impact.  It allows for year-over-year comparisons as to the overall impact of government. * Graph of Indexes
Posted by acareaga

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 14, 2012 6:58 PM EDT
Posts: 585
First: May 28, 2012
Last: May 15, 2013
We certainly dont need 4 more years of what Bush gave us and thats exactly what Romney and Ryan will do. More Tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts in Medicare and Social Security. Dont forget Romney and Ryan are PRO WAR.
  Let's invade Iran, dont they have oil ?Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
Based upon those charts, the present course doesn't look too good. We really cannot afford 4 more years of the same.  Response to Cost of Government Index :
Posted by Labrat64

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 14, 2012 7:28 PM EDT
Posts: 532
First: August 9, 2011
Last: May 22, 2013
That's Romney's economic plan to put people to work.  Start a war in Iran,  continue the war in Afghanistan, and maybe go back in Iraq.  He could even bring back the draft to make sure kids coming out of high school will be sent immediately in the military, that will ease unemployment.  Defense contractor's will  make money, Haliburton is back building hospitals, prisons, and schools in the Middle East. Body bag companies will make a killing. Prosthetic companies will boom.  I'm sure he will find a way to keep the kids of his rich friends out of the military the way he stayed out of Vietnam.  Yet the Republicans shot down President Obam's plan to put people to work on our  infrastructure.

 



n Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
We certainly dont need 4 more years of what Bush gave us and thats exactly what Romney and Ryan will do. More Tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts in Medicare and Social Security. Dont forget Romney and Ryan are PRO WAR.   Let's invade Iran, dont they have oil ?Response to Re: Cost of Government Index :
Posted by mandm84

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 7:29 AM EDT
Posts: 471
First: December 21, 2011
Last: May 20, 2013
The denominator in all those equations is GDP. All those numbers go down if GDP goes up. Right now we have a president, that through the use of imperial decrees, is destroying energy jobs and raising the cost of electricity, which in turn raises the cost of all goods. We cannot continue with a president that is obsessed with tilting at windmills, while people lose their jobs.
 Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
That's Romney's economic plan to put people to work.  Start a war in Iran,  continue the war in Afghanistan, and maybe go back in Iraq.  He could even bring back the draft to make sure kids coming out of high school will be sent immediately in the military, that will ease unemployment.  Defense contractor's will  make money, Haliburton is back building hospitals, prisons, and schools in the Middle East. Body bag companies will make a killing. Prosthetic companies will boom.  I'm sure he will find a way to keep the kids of his rich friends out of the military the way he stayed out of Vietnam.  Yet the Republicans shot down President Obam's plan to put people to work on our  infrastructure.   n Response to Re: Cost of Government Index :
Posted by creppelrm

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 8:04 AM EDT
Posts: 12532
First: February 29, 2008
Last: May 17, 2013
In Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
The denominator in all those equations is GDP. All those numbers go down if GDP goes up. Right now we have a president, that through the use of imperial decrees, is destroying energy jobs and raising the cost of electricity, which in turn raises the cost of all goods. We cannot continue with a president that is obsessed with tilting at windmills, while people lose their jobs.  Response to Re: Cost of Government Index :
Posted by Labrat64


What are you and your offspring  going to do when the earth runs out of OIL ?   You and the others who will wait til the crisis comes and then I suppose it will be the liberals fault.     

Most of the major oil fields in the world have passed their peak production, a leading energy economist has warned.       Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course, said Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the respected International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, which is charged with the task of assessing future energy supplies by OECD countries.
 

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 8:11 AM EDT
Posts: 12532
First: February 29, 2008
Last: May 17, 2013
In Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
That's Romney's economic plan to put people to work.  Start a war in Iran,  continue the war in Afghanistan, and maybe go back in Iraq.  He could even bring back the draft to make sure kids coming out of high school will be sent immediately in the military, that will ease unemployment.  Defense contractor's will  make money, Haliburton is back building hospitals, prisons, and schools in the Middle East. Body bag companies will make a killing. Prosthetic companies will boom.  I'm sure he will find a way to keep the kids of his rich friends out of the military the way he stayed out of Vietnam.  Yet the Republicans shot down President Obam's plan to put people to work on our  infrastructure.   n Response to Re: Cost of Government Index :
Posted by creppelrm


Laughing at the stupidity of their less economically fortunate base that wholly support them  .....Corporate America and its wealthy executive class now being led by Romney/Ryan   has had it good under the Bush administration.     Not only has it benefited from massive tax cuts, but the Bush administration has stood idle as huge numbers of American companies have set up phony headquarters in the Cayman Islands so better to avoid what little taxes they might have to pay in the U.S.

The rich don't want to pay taxes....they want the middle class to keep picking up the check.    Well the middle class is fed up with the greedy ones want to have their  good-times roll.
  

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 9:52 AM EDT
Posts: 532
First: August 9, 2011
Last: May 22, 2013
Gasoline is over 3 dollars a gallon now, while the world economy is in a slump.  When the economy begins to make a rebound world wide with India, China and the rest of the emerging economies rebounding what do you think the price of gasoline will climb to then?  We will still be ruining our environment digging for coal and drilling for oil, like what is happening now in Louisiana with a sink hole in a swamp no one wants to take responsibility for.  As our Republican governor is off to God knows where campainging for Mitt Romney.  I imagine the Federal Govt. will have to step in and reslove this mess since the state can't or won't. 


In Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
In Response to Re: Cost of Government Index : Laughing at the stupidity of their less economically fortunate base that wholly support them  .....Corporate America and its wealthy executive class now being led by Romney/Ryan   has had it good under the Bush administration.     Not only has it benefited from masssive tax cuts, but the Bush administration has stood idle as huge numbers of American companies have set up phony headquarters in the Cayman Islands so better to avoid what little taxes they might have to pay in the U.S. The rich don't want to pay taxes....they want the middle class to keep picking up the check.    Well the middle class is fed up with the greedy ones want to have their  good-times roll.   
Posted by JANMB

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 10:21 AM EDT
Posts: 471
First: December 21, 2011
Last: May 20, 2013
Peak production was supposedly passed during the Carter years. We now have secondary and tertiary recovery methods. Of course obama would have us brought down to the level of a 3rd world nation (income equality) and have us burn cow dung.  When the time comes that we run out of all fuels available, we will be ready. Market forces will dictate a solution.
  Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
In Response to Re: Cost of Government Index : What are you and your offspring  going to do when the earth runs out of OIL ?   You and the others who will wait til the crisis comes and then I suppose it will be the liberals fault.      Most of the major oil fields in the world have passed their peak production, a leading energy economist has warned.       Higher oil prices brought on by a rapid increase in demand and a stagnation, or even decline, in supply could blow any recovery off course, said Dr Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the respected International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, which is charged with the task of assessing future energy supplies by OECD countries.  
Posted by JANMB

Re: Cost of Government Index

posted at August 15, 2012 10:27 AM EDT
Posts: 471
First: December 21, 2011
Last: May 20, 2013
You really have a clever way of dodging the topic.I guess you must be a democrat strategist. Anyway it seems to me that obama got us involved in Libya and also involved us in Egypt and Syria. We know nothing of what the "ArabSpring" holds, but so far it looks like islamists are taking seed. BTW, obama cut almost 1 trillion from Medicare to fund obamacare.
  Response to Re: Cost of Government Index:
We certainly dont need 4 more years of what Bush gave us and thats exactly what Romney and Ryan will do. More Tax cuts for the wealthy, cuts in Medicare and Social Security. Dont forget Romney and Ryan are PRO WAR.   Let's invade Iran, dont they have oil ?Response to Re: Cost of Government Index :
Posted by mandm84

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