Barack Obama is the best thing that has happened to America in the last 100 years. Truly, he is the savior of America’s future. He is the best thing ever.
Despite the fact that he has some of the lowest approval ratings among recent presidents, history will see Barack Obama as the source of America’s resurrection. Barack Obama has plunged the country into levels of debt that we could not have previously imagined; his efforts…
Americans: Off the fence and raising their voices
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Unfortunately people do not look at the numbers correctly when taking about public debt by our government (or any government). The USA Federal debt grew 27.1% during the regime of George W. Bush from 56.5% when he began his 8 year reign until he left when it was @ 83.4% (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms, 2010; Source: Whitehouse FY 2011 Budget – Table 7.1 Federal Debt at the End of Year PDF, Excel, Senate.gov)
George W.’ father’s presidency increased the national debt 15% (same source). President Obama’s overall record won’t be known until his term of office ends. However, the amount of money President Obama appears to have added to the national debt is a drop in the bucket compared the previous 8 years and 4 years of the Bush family presidencies.
President Clinton’s two terms decreased the national deficit 9.7%.
Whether I agree, like or dislike current or former politicians is irrelevant; more importantly I dislike the incorrect stating of facts, truths and using large numbers to twist the public’s opinion to one side or the other. I just want the facts.
Percentages do not always tell the story so I went researched actual numerical values for the national debt:
(Unless otherwise noted these values GD)
4 August 1999 Federal government reduces national debt for first time in 25 years which stands at $3.6 trillion (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/411973.stm) (This just means we had a budget surplus and paid down the GD; not eliminated the GD)
27 September 2000 federal debt $455 billion (Again surplus budget year)
2001 federal debt $5.7 trillion
(Table 1-1 : Comparison of Projected Revenues, Outlays, and Deficits in CBO’s March 2009 Baseline and CBO’s Estimate of the President’s Budget; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt) (Means no surplus in budget which is the beginning of a 10-year trend)
8 October 2008 $10.2 trillion (http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/new-money/2008/10/09/maxing-out-the-national-debt-clock.html)
30 September 2008 as reported on 7 Oct 2008: $438 billion
In just over two weeks due to the Republican bailout of wall street money lenders, the national debt rose by approximately (sig fig)$9.8 trillion.
Today 18 September 2010 about 4 am GMT, the national debt was approx. $13.4 Trillion.
My point is to quit blaming the present Presidency for the enormous debt; look to Congress and the incumbents that have been there the past 20 or more years. Really who does control the purse-strings of America? Congress, the White House or the People? The answer really depends upon whether one votes at all; if one does note, then whom you elect–Congressionally and presidentially.
Ms. Devore-Wedding: if this was facebook, I would like this comment. I absolutely agree with your statement about the incorrect stating of facts and the manipulation of information. Both the liberal and conservative media are guilty of this unacceptable practice. I just saw an article on CNN releasing a report that the campaign season this year could witness $1 billion dollars in spending, which many will find absurd and latch on to as a sign of corruption and wasted money. But think about this: Business Week reported on the American diet industry, and discovered that Americans spend over $40 billion dollars a year on weight-loss products. Forty billion dollars! I think it’s pretty apparent from our nation’s overweight/obesity levels (hovering around 65%, I believe) this is mostly wasted money. I’m tired of news outlets and demagogues on the right and the left throwing out numbers without any context whatsoever. This article by Gary Hubbell, while very well-written, is another piece of sensationalized thoughtlessness that has been driving previously apathetic Americans to the polls for the wrong reason. Let’s stop pretending that Barack Obama is the “face” of liberalism and deceit. Does anyone recall FDR’s presidency? His attempt to pack the Supreme Court? His massive expansion of the modern welfare state? His establishment of vast social programs like Social Security that are now bankrupting our country? I always find it funny when elderly conservatives bash Obama and brand him as an incompetent liberal and then complain because he might “take” [whatever that means] their Social Security away [one of the largest liberal reform programs in the history of this country]- this is the product of manipulated facts and general apathy awakened by vicious demagogues of all political persuasions. Wake up, America- but do it correctly.