what was the best time in American history?



So you're going to pretend that what I posted isn't what happened "in reality." The numbers that I posted are fictitous in some way. LOL. If you can tell me why measuring debt in nominal dollars is more sensible than measuring debt as a percentage of GDP (so, like, pretend we hve a $500 T economy, is a debt load of $16 T problematic? If so, why? If not, why not?) I'm all ears.
 
So you're going to pretend that what I posted isn't what happened "in reality." The numbers that I posted are fictitous in some way. LOL. If you can tell me why measuring debt in nominal dollars is more sensible than measuring debt as a percentage of GDP (so, like, pretend we hve a $500 T economy, is a debt load of $16 T problematic? If so, why? If not, why not?) I'm all ears.

Because unless you do it his way his entire belief structure falls apart.
 
So you're going to pretend that what I posted isn't what happened "in reality." The numbers that I posted are fictitous in some way. LOL. If you can tell me why measuring debt in nominal dollars is more sensible than measuring debt as a percentage of GDP (so, like, pretend we hve a $500 T economy, is a debt load of $16 T problematic? If so, why? If not, why not?) I'm all ears.

Because in reality, GDP can be skewed upward by a bubble (see 1999/2000 or 2007/2008). The debt doesn't go away if GDP goes down. Pretending that it is a good thing that debt increased is ridiculous. While debt as a percentage of GDP does show our ability to pay off the debt, it does not mean that increasing the debt at a rate slower than GDP is a good thing. Sooner or later you actually have to pay back what you borrow. GDP going up or down does not change that.
 
If you say so, but it makes your point pointless unless you account for inflation.

No Jarod, it does not. The fact of the matter is that the debt increased. Devaluation of the dollar via inflation does not alter the fact that our total debt went up.
 
Because in reality, GDP can be skewed upward by a bubble (see 1999/2000 or 2007/2008). The debt doesn't go away if GDP goes down. Pretending that it is a good thing that debt increased is ridiculous. While debt as a percentage of GDP does show our ability to pay off the debt, it does not mean that increasing the debt at a rate slower than GDP is a good thing. Sooner or later you actually have to pay back what you borrow. GDP going up or down does not change that.

If I borrow 10 dollars, and I make 8 dollars a year that is significantly different than if I borrow 10 dollars and make 10,000,000 a year. I'm still paying back 10 dollars, but its not as big a deal.

Is that simple enough for you to understand?
 
No Jarod, it does not. The fact of the matter is that the debt increased. Devaluation of the dollar via inflation does not alter the fact that our total debt went up.

The number of dollars went up, not necessarily the value of the debt.
 
If I borrow 10 dollars, and I make 8 dollars a year that is significantly different than if I borrow 10 dollars and make 10,000,000 a year. I'm still paying back 10 dollars, but its not as big a deal.

Is that simple enough for you to understand?

Do you understand what is being discussed? Dung is trying desperately to try and change the topic to the ability to repay the debt. But that is not my point. My point is the increasing level of the total debt. That absolutely matters. Just because GDP grows faster than the pace of the debt doesn't alter the fact that you are increasing the debt load to future generations. What happens to the total debt as a percent of GDP if we go into a long recession? or worse, a depression? GDP can go up or down. Unless we are paying down debt in good years (which we are not), then in the down years (recession)... we see a very big problem looming.

If you want to discuss debt as a percent of GDP... we are currently over a 100%. Is that Obama's fault? or is it because every President since Ike has raised the nations debt every year since he left office?
 
Because in reality, GDP can be skewed upward by a bubble (see 1999/2000 or 2007/2008). The debt doesn't go away if GDP goes down. Pretending that it is a good thing that debt increased is ridiculous. While debt as a percentage of GDP does show our ability to pay off the debt, it does not mean that increasing the debt at a rate slower than GDP is a good thing. Sooner or later you actually have to pay back what you borrow. GDP going up or down does not change that.

No, the debt does not go away if GDP goes down, but the debt-to-GDP ratio goes up and we can all agree that a high debt to GDP ratio can be problematic (we probably differ on how problematic and why). So, like, what's the problem? No one pretends that is a good thing. Maybe a necessary thing, but not in an of itself an intrinsicly good things.

And no, increasing debt at a rate slower than GDP increases is not necessarily a good thing (nor is it necessarily bad), but its a whole hell of a lot better than increasing debt faster than GDP is increasing.

And yes, sooner or later you have to pay back what you borrow, but the government's ability to pay back what you borrow is based on what it can bring in through taxation. What the government can bring in through taxation depends on the amount of ecnomic activity -- GDP. So the ratio of debt to GDP is a reflection of the ability to pay back what you borrow, which is really all that matters. I mean, who gives a shit if debt is $20 Trillion if GDP is $500 Trillion. So, like, whether that ratio is high or low is the relevant metric. The nominal dollar amount of debt without any context with respect to ability to repay, is useless.
 
The number of dollars went up, not necessarily the value of the debt.

PublicDebtPurple.gif
 
No, the debt does not go away if GDP goes down, but the debt-to-GDP ratio goes up and we can all agree that a high debt to GDP ratio can be problematic (we probably differ on how problematic and why). So, like, what's the problem? No one pretends that is a good thing. Maybe a necessary thing, but not in an of itself an intrinsicly good things.

And no, increasing debt at a rate slower than GDP increases is not necessarily a good thing (nor is it necessarily bad), but its a whole hell of a lot better than increasing debt faster than GDP is increasing.

And yes, sooner or later you have to pay back what you borrow, but the government's ability to pay back what you borrow is based on what it can bring in through taxation. What the government can bring in through taxation depends on the amount of ecnomic activity -- GDP. So the ratio of debt to GDP is a reflection of the ability to pay back what you borrow, which is really all that matters. I mean, who gives a shit if debt is $20 Trillion if GDP is $500 Trillion. So, like, whether that ratio is high or low is the relevant metric. The nominal dollar amount of debt without any context with respect to ability to repay, is useless.


That's what I said....
 
Tell us the years in which the US was functioning the closest to what you think we should be functioning.


Whats your favorite time period when we were getting it right?

Translation:
Post your opinion so I can create more drama by demanding you show proof of what your opinion and so I can then also bitch and moan abour your choice.
/Translation
 
the people on the right now in this country don't like this country and never have.

They refuse to say what is this GRAND TIME they wish to "take this country back" to.


the reason is they know all the good times didn't involve their historically failed ideas.

their Deregulation above all mind set destroys the good times in this country and replaces them with constant boom and bust which benefits ONLY the wealthiest

Wow! 14 minutes between OP, that was an 'opinion topic' to post 8, slam against the right. Yowser!

Seriously, I'm always amazed how one troller for the DNC, that pretends an inability to spell or construct a complete sentence, (unless really, really pissed off), manages to gain so many responses. I've been in awe of her abilities for years.
 
What was the best time in American history?

The 1960's!

The Civil Rights Act of 1964/War on Poverty!
The Music!
Muscle Cars!
The Miniskirt!
The Moon Landing!
Plenty of Good paying Jobs
!
 
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