State of The Union 2011

[Gaspar]

I saw somewhere on the dial this morning that the projected 2011 deficit is $1.5 trillion by CBO figures.

Along the lines of what Wevus brought up, I'm worried the GOP is going to play a shell game with the numbers and continue to blame Democrats for excessive spending.  Remember spending is ALWAYS a good idea so long as it's benefitting yourself or those who put you in office.

I guarantee they will!  But. . .I don't really care, spending has to be cut.  Names and blame are of little consequence. This is an electioneering issue.

[Conan71]

I guarantee they will!  But. . .I don't really care, spending has to be cut.  Names and blame are of little consequence. This is an electioneering issue.

I hope the current Congress understands if all we get are more excuses for the next two years and no results, they will be fired and we will try again.  I really didn't see the midterm as a mandate for conservatives near as much as people being tired of games and doublespeak and wanting real results.  Sooner or later I hope the 537 elected officials in DC get that.

[Gaspar]

I hope the current Congress understands if all we get are more excuses for the next two years and no results, they will be fired and we will try again.  I really didn't see the midterm as a mandate for conservatives near as much as people being tired of games and doublespeak and wanting real results.  Sooner or later I hope the 537 elected officials in DC get that.

I think that's been a big problem for politicians for a few thousand years.  At least.

[Red Arrow]

Sooner or later I hope the 537 elected officials in DC get that.

It may take a new batch of 537.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Here is the final reconciled numbers.  Debt clock is cute, but only part of the story.
This day in 2008 says 183 billion a few minutes ago.  Deficit for the year - 9/30/2008 thru 9/30/2009 was 1.9 trillion.  Little discrepancy there.

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

[Gaspar]

Here is the final reconciled numbers.  Debt clock is cute, but only part of the story.
This day in 2008 says 183 billion a few minutes ago.  Deficit for the year - 9/30/2008 thru 9/30/2009 was 1.9 trillion.  Little discrepancy there.

http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm

Dude, thats a report on National Debt, not Federal Deficit. . .and your numbers are still wrong.

[heironymouspasparagus]

First, you gotta be able to subtract.  Subtract each year from the succeeding year and you have the final year end deficit.  Yep, public schools are in really bad shape!

And the numbers aren't mine to be wrong or right.  They ARE the Federal government numbers.  Well, yeah, there may be some question there....

[Gaspar]

First, you gotta be able to subtract.  Subtract each year from the succeeding year and you have the final year end deficit.  Yep, public schools are in really bad shape!

And the numbers aren't mine to be wrong or right.  They ARE the Federal government numbers.  Well, yeah, there may be some question there....

LOL!
The federal budget deficit is calculated by subtracting estimated tax receipts from spending.  This is the amount over/under budgetary spending we are at any given time.  This number ignores several factors including transfers and public holdings.  It's very simple. . .how much is the government spending, minus how much is it taking in.

The Federal debt is the TOTAL debt held by the public, representing U. S. intergovernmental debt, treasury security debt, and total public debt (you and I).

These are two completely different things! 

When you do as you said above, you get a factor known as Debt Growth, not Deficit.  The federal government can run a surplus and we will still have Debt Growth. In fact, our debt will most likley never decrease and that's fine as long as it remains significantly under GDP.

The public can and should operate under a certain level of debt, however the government should operate budget neutral (balanced).  Of course that can be argued dependent on your political philosophy.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Real (total US debt from year to year) versus imaginary (200 billion deficit for Bush last year).

[Gaspar]

Real (total US debt from year to year) versus imaginary (200 billion deficit for Bush last year).

I think you should have stopped about half a thread ago.