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Why Does Obama Focus On Deficit Rather Than Spending ??

Last night's press conference provided another teachable moment as to why the focus should not be on "the deficit" but rather total government spending as a percentage of GDP.

When Obama was challenged on the massive size of his budget and the burden placed on future generations, he immediately pivoted to a discussion of deficits rather than the total dead weight cost of the government as a percentage of GDP:

CNN's Ed Henry:  "You keep saying that you've inherited a big fiscal mess. Do you worry, though, that your daughters, not to mention the next president, will be inheriting an even bigger fiscal mess if the spending goes out of control?"

OBAMA: "Of course I do, Ed, which is why we're doing everything we can to reduce that deficit."

By repeatedly trumpeting the claim his budget will cut the deficit in half in five years, Obama distracts from the most meaningful metric:  Total government spending as a percentage of GDP will rise to a crushing 24.5 percent in 2019.  The average of the past 40 years is 20.7 percent.

Obama's predecessor George W. Bush did not help matters by ceding the deficits-are-the-problem frame to those wishing to increase the role of government in our lives.

Focusing on the deficit is like focusing on the visible tip of an iceberg rather than the unseen (and in this case, growing) danger beneath.  Obama's maritime metaphor in his concluding statement --"This is a big ocean liner. It's not a speedboat " - reminds us the Titanic was sunk by the iceberg itself, not the visible tip.


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Lee
28 helpful answers

the difference between being a hero or a coward is holding onto fear for one second longer

Our new president was elected to provide change and be our leader well he is not a leader, he is a politican. He is no leader, a leader will take responsibility even an elected politician that works for his people and the country takes responsibility.  But as of late, very few liberal democrats take resposibility (DODD, FRANK,SHUMMER, POLISI, REDA, GEITHNER). They are following the leader their man President Obama. Our president is not a leader nor does he take responsibility. As a state senetor he voted present for the most part and as a federal senetor he voted along party lines or in the far left camp then he runs for president. The time he spent in Washington and Springfield he learned three things, A) Never commit, become teflon , B) Who and where do I go get money and power, C) How to scapegoat, create strawman and red herrings. All of this goes back to your question.

He is still creating a strawamn a red herring (THEGEORGE BUSH ADM). His words he did not create the problem he inherited it. Of course he voted for on most it it in the his first four year, but he is not responsible George Bush is and the deficit he talks about is the one from the previous administration. Ov course he does not say that he is the president now  and like other new presidents he has lead and do his job and part of that is to reduce the deficit, BUT and I MEAN BUT he does not know how so rather than take the bull by the horns  and do his job and the things that are proven to work he spends money, keeps his political promises push his agenda and last but not least change the economic system of the Country. The system that has worked since the creation of the country in good times and bad.

The talk of the deficit is only a red herring and blame someone else. It use is a way for him to hide his inability to to do his job and still push his agenda and pay off those who elected him.  The leader of that group is George Soros and the liberal left. Yes, like the Titanic he will sink this ship. But unlike one ship that had some surviors he will sink the economic system of the greatest  free and deomocratic country in history. THAT IS WHAT HIS CHANGE IS ALL ABOUT AND THE WAY HE HAS BEEN HEADED SINCE HE STARTED RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND KNOW THAT HE IS IN THE SEAT HE IS OUT TO COMPLETE THE JOB. THIS IS THE CHANGE HE IS  ABOUT. HE IS A POLITICIAN  AND A HUCKSTER NOT A LEADER AND THE ONLY EXPERIENCE HE HAS IN RUNNING A CAMPAIGNE NOT LEADING AND TAKING REPONSIBILITY. THE ONLY THING HE HAS DONE THAT HE INTENTED SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IS TO SPEND ALL OF THAT MONEY. HE DID THAT ON PURPOSE KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT HE WAS DOING TEARING DOWN THE COUNTRY AND BUILDING IT IN HIS IMAGE AND NOT THE IMAGE CREATED BY OUR FOUNDING FATHERS.

Posted 2009-03-28T07:05:11Z
Lee was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

 
31 helpful answers

Blondie,

Your Toughest competitor lives in your head, some days his name is fear, or pain,or gravity. Stomp his ass.

Because this is what people are asking him to do, they asked him to close down the prison in Cuba and that is what he is doing. I think it is nice we finally got a President who listens to what the people want. He knows it takes money to generate more money. If he creates more jobs that means more taxes, and more taxes mean that Government can get out of debt. It is probably be hard at first, but I'm sure the Government will help in any way they can. For those of you who do not know you can go to his website and give advice just type in contact President Obama in the  Google search engine.

Posted 2009-03-28T22:32:49Z
jacval was invited by Yedda to answer this question.

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196 helpful answers

GOD  

FAMILY

SELF

COUNTRY

 

In that order!                                                                                      

I do not recall the people asking Obama to place their children and grand children in debt ! I did NOT hear the American people ask Obama to spend 9.4 TRILLION dollars! I did NOT hear the American people ask Obama to spend more money than in ALL total administrations combined since the time of George Washington!! I did NOT hear the American people ask Obama to sign a bill with 8,000 earmarks!

NO SIR, MAKE NO MISTAKE WHAT OBAMA AND THE DEMONCRATS ARE DOING IS NOT THE WILL OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!! AND ,IN 2010 THEY WILL FIND THAT OUT! IF WE ARE SO LUCKY TO SURVIVE THAT LONG!

Posted 2009-03-31T09:34:57Z

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