The GOP plan sucks
Sure, it sucks less than the Democratic budget proposal, but any plan that doesn’t foresee a decrease in the deficit (as a percentage of GDP) for another forty years is no plan at all. Under the GOP plan, we don’t even get back to 2006 deficit levels until I’m in my thirteenth decade of life.
Remember this too: this plan doesn’t even begin to consider the possibility that there might be a terrorist strike, a war, or a few more economic downturns between now and then. Long-term budget projections tend to miss those somewhat important events which have a tendency to rapidly increase the level of government spending.
Republicans, here’s some tough love: Aside from the defense of our nation, getting federal spending under control is the most important issue America will face now and into the future. This budget proposal is a “we’re not as bad as the Democrats” plan. It is not a good plan. It is not even a tolerable plan.
Do over, and bring back a better budget proposal, or make plans now to cease to exist as a party.
(ht: DF)


April 1st, 2009 at 4:32 am
The probable reason is all of the money spent by TARP and by the Stimulus that have already grown the deficit out of control. There’s also the Social Security and Medicare problems set to hit next year. Keep in mind that the above graph shows debt, not the deficit.
Ed: Yes, the graph does show debt, not deficit. Roughly speaking, the change in debt from one year to the next equals that year’s deficit. Not until you see the debt line go horizontal is there projected to be a balanced budget–some forty years from now. Not acceptable.