Charlie Rose Season 20 Episode 147 Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson

Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson sit down with Charlie Rose in this episode of Charlie Rose season 20 episode 147. Bowles and Simpson are co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, and in this interview, they discuss the state of the U.S. government's debt, entitlement programs, tax policy, and the future of the U.S. economy.

Throughout the episode, Rose engages the two former senators in a thoughtful discussion about the economic challenges facing the U.S. and potential solutions to address them. Bowles and Simpson advocate for a balanced approach to deficit reduction that includes both spending cuts and revenue increases, and they warn of the dangers of allowing the U.S. deficit and debt to continue to grow unchecked.

Bowles and Simpson also discuss the need for reforming entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, which they argue are financially unsustainable in their current forms. They offer potential policy solutions, such as increasing the retirement age and means-testing benefits, but also stress the need for both parties to come together to find common ground on this issue.

When it comes to tax policy, Bowles and Simpson discuss various proposals, including reducing tax rates, eliminating tax breaks, and implementing a carbon tax, but ultimately emphasize the importance of simplifying the tax code and making it more efficient.

The interview isn't all economic policy, however, as Rose also delves into the personal lives of Bowles and Simpson. The two discuss their early lives, their time in public service, and how they came to work together on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

Overall, this episode of Charlie Rose offers a valuable and insightful discussion about the state of the U.S. economy, the challenges facing the country's fiscal future, and potential policy solutions to address these issues. Bowles and Simpson's expertise and experience make for a compelling and informative interview with Charlie Rose.