[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

What we're trying to avoid is Japan-style over-spending. Yes, they make it through, but it's very painful.

Did you even read the article? The result of the cutting back that Japan did (after first trying stimulus with mixed results) was a) serious economic stagnation, b) huge ballooning debt (mainly due to a stagnant economy = lack of revenue) and c) no real platform, even 20 years later, to climb out of the hole thus dug.

Question being what is the balance point. Reasonable is also a loaded word in this context. Deficit hawks would argue that we are so far beyond the balancing point that extreme cuts are necessary.

Those deficit hawks must then be making the argument that the U.S. economy is fully recovered and in good shape then, right? So, that's the question. Have we recovered, or does the economy need more help?

Some would say insanity passes for fiscal policy in the administration. Some would say that unemployment rose because of this policy, and continues to rise because more people are becoming dependent on government for everything, and have left the work force entirely. Some would say not only that, but the new jobs being created are either public sector or very low-paying. And some would say the runaway inflation is inevitable as soon as the fed is directed to stop holding interest rates at an unsustainable level.

And those people have no actual evidence for any of those claims except "their gut" and "truthiness".

Finally, when you say "maybe we'll have a conversation", that's adding an emotion that shuts down substantive discussion.

Well, you misread me. It's not emotion, it's dismissal.

Obviously, we have very different views on economic policy. It's frustrating to me that you post charts that ignore a large portion of the debt.

Well, basically, that's because I've posted two charts about the deficit.

But it's not a budget cut when it amounts to reducing the expected increase in something.

I'm reasonably certain I have never construed any of this as an actual cut of a budget. I'm certain I've never used that phrase. I understand the difference between cutting a budget and a deficit.