Hallelujah!
Looks like we just saw BigTex, CJ7, WTF, and Yssup Rider agree wholeheartedly with an opinion expressed by CuteOldGuy.
Can a breakthrough leading to lasting peace in the Middle East be far behind?
Regarding the thread title, I think the reason many people are not aware that the deficit has been falling is that a large percentage of our dumbed-down citizens suffer from extreme cases of innumeracy -- and don't have a clue about the difference between the words
deficit and
debt.
Federal government spending has actually fallen slightly in
nominal terms over the last three years, and by a larger margin in terms of percentage of RGDP (which is, after all, what really matters). And tax revenues have increased as the economy has begun to slowly come back.
Of course, we have a long way to go and a lot of vexing problems to address. But for now anyway, the near-term deficit outlook is not nearly so bad as it appeared just a couple of years ago.
There are plenty of talking points zealous partisans might reasonably utilize to attack politicians of the party they oppose. But it's wise to avoid nonsensical, rank disingenuity such as this:
(Addressed to BigTex)
Quote:
Originally Posted by JD Barleycorn
You really are kind of stupid aren't you. Don't you remember that little payroll tax increase of 2%?
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Professor Barleycorn, have you completely forgotten the discussion we had concerning this about a year ago? The 2% payroll tax, as originally agreed by the parties, was intended to be a one-time
temporary stimulus measure for 2011 only. Then the parties, as part of a larger deal, extended it for one more year.
Thus the act of simply allowing its previously planned expiry cannot reasonably be characterized as a "tax increase."
Good Lord, even Grover Norquist declined to characterize the bipartisan agreement to end the temporary tax rate adjustment as a "tax increase." And no one doubts his anti-tax bona fides.
Professor, this has been pointed out to you and a couple of others here on multiple occasions, but you would do well to try to remember it this time:
If you're going to hurl insults at the intelligence of others, it's always a good idea to be sure you have some understanding of the subject under discussion.
You will almost certainly embarrass yourself far less often that way.
