I was asked to volunteer to work for Obama

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You do realize that he's governed to the right of the campaign he ran? Did you expect him to not have a stimulus? As for the deficit, it's mostly the fault of the tax cuts and the wars and out of control military spending.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You do realize that he's governed to the left of the campaign he ran?

It's pretty weird to hear jfern saying this.

I meant right.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

You do realize that he's governed to the right of the campaign he ran? Did you expect him to not have a stimulus? As for the deficit, it's mostly the fault of the tax cuts and the wars and out of control military spending.

That's incorrect. Going off the $1.3 trillion deficit we had last year:
Cut defense spending to Clinton levels (-$400): ~$900 billion deficit.
Let Bush tax cuts expire (-$260): ~ $640 billion deficit.

Quite the gap. While the bloated military budget and tax cuts did help balloon the deficit, they alone did not constitute the entire deficit. Depressed tax revenues from the recession, increased welfare costs, the rising costs of entitlements (social security, medicare), and increased discretionary spending have all played their fair share.

I understand Torie's sentiment. I imagine that he's taking a more long-term view at this while most of the people here are focused on the immediate effects. The United States does not need to go through Greek-level austerity; assuming we get our fiscal house in order this decade. If we gradually reduced the deficit (aiming for ~$100 billion increments would be ideal) though restrained/cutting spending and occasional revenue increase, we could probably run a surplus by the early 2020s. It's actually the Keynesian thing to do: when the recession is over, restore the budget and keep inflation tame so you can run a large deficit without fear of consequence the next time a recession rolls around. The problem is that the ruling parties tend to get addicted to the spending, and let's face it, undoing your tax cut or pork-barrel projects in your district is going to be unpopular.

Torie, do you really think that a President Romney (and Republican Congress) would really exercise fiscal discipline? Both parties have demonstrated a lack of fiscal restraint when they hold all the cards. The party of "fiscal responsibility" has been wracking up the deficit since 1980. Wouldn't a divided government be more ideal? It worked well in the 90s and if the current budget projections are any indicator, it seems to be working now (to bring down the deficit).

No, I'm correct.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Stick it to the man, Torie!

Voting Mitt Romney is sticking it to the man?!!!!!!