Say Anything Blog

According to the New York Sun, the numbers for the federal deficit have been shrinking.

2004: $413 billion
2005: $318 billion
2006: $248 billion
2007: $158 billion

The deficit as a percentage of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product has been shrinking as well:

2004: 3.6%
2005: 2.6%
2006: 1.9%
2007: 1.2%

So that’s relatively good news right?  We’re not shrinking the national debt, which isn’t great, but the rate at which that debt is growing has come down.  Which is nice.

The Democrats’ reaction?

Democrats responded to yesterday’s good news on the budget by predicting that the red ink would start flooding again in future years as the bills for entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security come due.

Wow.  Yet, if anyone tries to suggest even a reduction in the rate of spending growth on those entitlement programs the Democrats are quick to brand them as one who doesn’t care about sick people or hates the elderly.

Personally, I’d be enthused if Democrats were really worried about what Medicare and Social Security are costing us as a nation.  But really, the only solution they ever have for expensive spending programs is “raise taxes.” Reducing spending is never, ever an option.

But hey, at least the Democrats are willing to admit that Social Security and Medicare, among other massive government entitlements) are problems.  Maybe now they’ll quit trying to point to Medicare as evidence of working government-provided health care.