I saw in the paper this morning that the U.S Govt was boasting of a 1 trillion dollar surplus. Are these guys arrogant or what. What happen to the national Debt, What about the money that has been spent on y2k to date and the Wars in kosovo and Iraq. How is this surplus possible or is it just voodoo economics. If our Govt has a Surplus of funds why is it not putting these funds to good use in prepostioning critical supplies to protect our nation, Do they feel that y2k will be no problem or are they about to loot the treasury in a big way. What's your thoughts. To our Generals and senor military people, hold our political leaders accountable if their actions kill this country.

-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike @ conservation . com), June 29, 1999

Answers

Thread about the surplus (You have just entered into Bubba land)

-- (here ya go@Mike.com), June 29, 1999.

The Clinton Administration has been coming out with the "surplus" announcement about once a quarter now. One bunch of economists then support the story and another bunch are harshly critical of the rosy projections and bogus accounting. You see, if we all agree that 1 + 1 = 3, then everything the Feds say makes sense. It's our own fault if we lack the "vision" and "flexibility" to "see beyond the numbers" and cheer on the "New Era Bookkeeping". Clinton treats the entire country like some sort of mass bimbo. He assumes we "want to be lied to".

Here's the numbers on the national debt. In the ten fiscal years of this historical expansion, the debt has NOT ONCE declined. It won't decline this year, and it sure as hell won't decline next year. Maybe it will decline all at once in year 15? I'll check with the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and let you know.

US Government Debt to the Penny

-- Nathan (nospam@all.com), June 29, 1999.

One question on this news about the surplus. Has anyone thought to ask the administration to show in black and white exactly how this "surplus" has magically appeared almost out of nowhere? It's beyond the realm of stupidity to actually sit back and believe from Clinton or anyone in this adminstration full of misfits and knuckleheads that a surplus is possible. It's obvious they're using Soc.Security surpluses and a set of assumptions and criteria that even a first year accountant could see is total idiocy. Why doesn't anyone in the media or the Republican party call their bluff? Just how stupid have we become that anything this idiot tells us could be true?

-- saveamerica (gfc40@hotmail.net), June 29, 1999.

I think Clinton is planning on opening up a sex-scandal store in Hope, Arkansas to collect enough revenue to pay the debt. He'll sell memorabilia and videotapes of the dirty deeds themselves. Considering how much money they have made for Monica I think it might be a step in the right direction.

-- (Bubba@for.....president you say?), June 29, 1999.

Yes, this administration truly is arrogant. But hey, the press and dumbed down America lets them get away with it. It's such an obvious scam of a claim. However, it does two things.

1: It gives Bubba a claim to a legacy of having solved the biggest bugaboo in America's modern financial history: the debt problem. This is so transparently outrageous since no one can predict interest rates or other economic variables 1 year into the future, much less 15, not to mention Y2K, etc.. They just "found" a trillion dollars? This is all money on the "come".

2: It gives Al Gore a slick lie to throw out to the stupido electorate by claiming that he was a part of that team which solved this insurmountable problem (which no other president in modern history could pull off) and therefore we should re-elect him if we really know what is good for us. Remember, Al is not looking too good in the poles so they are desperate to prop him up.

Every day I am more and more amazed at the brazenness of this President. It's quite alarming. We are witnessing something so incredible in the history of this nation. We are watching a nation as it dies. America is exhibiting all the traits of a nation in serious decline.

SDB

-- S. David Bays (sdbays@intplus.com), June 29, 1999.

Should we be surprised by BJ Klinton's phoney announcements. After all, everyone knows:

HE LIES

-- Mr. Adequate (mr@adequate.com), June 30, 1999.

The projection relies on a series of assumptions. Such factors as growth, inflation, and international trade are factored in. Also, remember that the projection may require unrealistic (low) levels of government expenditure! I'd have to see ALL the assumptions spelled out before I believed that we had that surplus!

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 30, 1999.

I do not know why I sometimes get involved in such OT threads. But the Klinton haters need to get a grip on this one. The Conservatives, the Liberals, the Blacks, the Whites, the Jews, the Catholics, and the Baptists, the Mormons, the NRA supporters, the Brady Bill lovers, and NEARLY everyone else in Congress and NEARLY all economists beleive we have a sizable surplus. The issue is not WILL there be one tomorrow, but rather how to react to the one this year and forecast for next.

Both parties in Congress up to this point have been more than willing to add the current SS surplus into the budget to falsely (I believe) 'balance' the budget. Should be use the budget surplus to end this accounting practice? Should we lower taxes? As my old economic professor suggested, should we raise taxes further and pay down the deficit during the current good times? Are there worthwile projects we should fund in the military, for education, for elderly care, or law enforcement?

I think that reasonable contributions to the national debate require us to look at the real issues rather than coninuing to post more hateful obsessive rants. Of course I firmly admire your continued determination to hate Klinton, his wife, and every liberal on the planet earth.

Sincerely,

-- Uhm... (jfcp81a@prodigy.com), June 30, 1999.