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>> I lean conservative/libertarian on social issues, >Aren't they opposites? It's sad that everything about American politics casts every issue in black and w

>> I lean conservative/libertarian on social issues, >Aren't they opposites? It's sad that everything about American politics casts every issue in black and white, either/or, polar-opposites mentality, and must be labelled. I was just trying to "get on paper" for context with my post. > Running a deficit is like borrowing to fund college. That may have been the most unfortunate example you could have used, since so many people are not seeing the value of their education in the marketplace pay off that investment in a reasonable period. Regardless, I understand what you're saying, but if you're trying to tell me that the deficit that the US federal government consistently runs is a planned, strategic effort, I'm not buying it. ;-)

Clubber 9y ago
It's not but keep in mind with no debt, there is no US treasury market. You have to have a little bit of it. Having said that, government debt is a little different from personal or business debt for a couple of major reasons: 1. Government's don't die. If they do, debt is the least of your worries. 2. Governments can control inflation and print money. Having said that, I'm not agreeing our amount of debt is good or even ok, it's just there are different things to consider and it isn't really analogous to personal or business debt.
ianai 9y ago
The government is either going to have a cash outlay or cash influx as a direct mirror of its deficit or surplus, respectively. If the government runs a surplus then entities outside the government are, on balance, giving it cash. That's like a bribe from foreign entities. But a deficit is like the government outlaying cash. This is necessary, btw, for the US dollar to be the defacto currency of the world. Believe me, if you want the US government to succeed or at least be stable then you want it to keep its status as the defacto world currency.

Clubber 9y ago

It's not but keep in mind with no debt, there is no US treasury market. You have to have a little bit of it. Having said that, government debt is a little different from personal or business debt for a couple of major reasons: 1. Government's don't die. If they do, debt is the least of your worries. 2. Governments can control inflation and print money. Having said that, I'm not agreeing our amount of debt is good or even ok, it's just there are different things to consider and it isn't really analogous to personal or business debt.

ianai 9y ago

The government is either going to have a cash outlay or cash influx as a direct mirror of its deficit or surplus, respectively. If the government runs a surplus then entities outside the government are, on balance, giving it cash. That's like a bribe from foreign entities. But a deficit is like the government outlaying cash. This is necessary, btw, for the US dollar to be the defacto currency of the world. Believe me, if you want the US government to succeed or at least be stable then you want it to keep its status as the defacto world currency.