I agree that in the long term austerity is necessary. However, austerity as it’s used in politics[1] is little more than a talking point. The Republicans run o

I agree that in the long term austerity is necessary. However, austerity as it’s used in politics[1] is little more than a talking point. The Republicans run on the austerity platform and yet Republicans increase deficits more than Democrats. The US deficit is caused largely by military spending and corporate welfare, and the Republican party refuses to cut military spending (unless it’s to helping veterans). The Democrats also increase deficits, but at least they don’t do so while running on an austerity platform. The few politicians who I would actually trust to be economically responsible are completely socially irresponsible. The fact is, whether or not austerity is the right way to go is completely irrelevant to how austerity is actually used in politics. So whether or not austerity is the right way to go is a moot point. [1] In the US—I don’t know enough about international economics to talk intelligently about them.