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Return to Article: Mixed Messages

• 13499
  

  Tom, is the national debt $8 trillion or not? Your answer sounds like a Bushism. It either is or it isn't.

  You mixed it up real good, just like the current administration has. I know what deficit is and what debt is. Off budget and on budget.

  By the way, why do we have anything off budget? Is it designed to hide the true costs of government folly? While we are at it, when and how do off budget costs get paid?

  rds Posted November 18, 2005 10:33 AM
• 13415
  

  "The deficit is the fiscal year difference between what the United States Government takes in from taxes and other revenues, called receipts, and the amount of money the government spends, called outlays. The items included in the deficit are considered either on-budget or off-budget. (The off-budget items are typically comprised of the two Social Security trust funds, old-age and survivors insurance and disability insurance, and the Postal-Service fund.) Generally, on-budget outlays tend to exceed on-budget receipts, while off-budget receipts tend to exceed off-budget outlays." From your suggestion RDS! Learn the difference between debt and deficit!!!!!! You would have everyone think that the $8 trillion started when President Bush took office, not a rolling total since the country began keeping records!!!! Drink the Kool-Aid!!!!

  Tom Posted November 14, 2005 2:15 PM
• 13401
  

  Bush is a disaster. He lies about everything not just the economy or the war. The economy gets bad ratings for the simple fact that the national debt is growing -- under Clinton it actually was declining! The tremendous tax cuts in the face of the huge increase in government spending for Iraq and now New Orleans results in unbelievable debts on our grand children.

  The economy cannot sustain its growth rate in the face of the tremendous government debt increase. Interest rates will continue to rise and inflation will continue to grow. That means that investment will decline and the United States will start a period of economic decline. Within a year we will be in a recession. Government debt growth does not impact the economy for some time. However, because short term interest rates have risen more than 400 percent in a year and mortgage rates have increased 20 percent in the last few months, we might expect a significant slowing of economic activity in the private sector within the next six months.

  Also, the Republicans continue to advance the line of free trade on a worldwide basis. That means displacement of many workers in the United States in favor of cheaper labor overseas. This hits the poorer sector of the society and benefits the richer sector. This continues growth in the division of haves and have nots will lead to continued growth in discontent. Maybe to the extent that the Republicans will not be re-elected. Yes they won the election; however, that does not give them the right to drive this country into a recession to support the rich.

  taxpayer Posted November 14, 2005 7:45 AM
• 13369
  

  Google up "national debt" and read it for yourself: Maybe this is your day to learn something.

  rds Posted November 10, 2005 7:45 PM
• 13347
  

  Mr. Bush and his cronies are skinning the sheep instead of shearing them.

  GovExec.com reader Posted November 9, 2005 11:11 AM
• 13344
  

  RDS, where do you get your numbers? $8 trillion! Lighten up! Yes, deficit spending under President Bush is very high. In the same breath, the administration (or revenues from all those jobs that are being created by the rotten economy, five million in the last two years) is paying down the debt at a much faster rate than was planned. No matter what a Republican does it is never good enough for you! We get it!!!! You don't like them, but you lost the election so deal with it and in three years you can vote for Hillary!

  Tom Posted November 9, 2005 10:32 AM
• 13334
  

  Figures don't lie but liars can figure.

  With the national debt at an all time high of $8 trillion and deficits on every corner of the country, how can anyone say the economy is growing? All I can see is the economy is being treated just like the WMD fiasco.

  Make the data fit the policy. That is not any way to run a country or fight a war.

  Once Mr. Bush is outsourced, things will come to the sunshine and everyone will know the truth.

  rds Posted November 8, 2005 6:57 PM
• 13329
  

  The story says: "The second group is made up of those who are working but struggling financially because their wages have not kept pace with inflation. In fact, many of the income gains that people have enjoyed in recent years were actually in the form of higher health insurance premiums paid by employers and treated as income. Such 'gains' never made it into the pockets of workers."

  Where, exactly, can I find data about these statements? Which Web pages, exactly, have this data?

  Thanks.

  GovExec.com reader Posted November 8, 2005 3:35 PM
• 13321
  

  Don't forget that the economy during most of Lyndon Johnson's presidency was also great due to both war and anti poverty spending. Johnson's ultimate defeat came with his inability to end the Vietnam War. Bush has the same problem.

  Leo Dohogne Posted November 8, 2005 9:38 AM
• 13319
  

  "The most perplexing is the public disapproval of his handling of the economy"

  It's very simple. Average people don't check the GDP to determine if the president is doing a good job handling the economy -- they check the interest rate on their home equity loan and the price they pay for gas at the pump. Both have been rising dramatically while oil companies and bankers are making record profits.

  GovExec.com reader Posted November 8, 2005 9:19 AM