Am I the only one who cares?

[Dave Grubb]

From today's NYT:

WASHINGTON — The federal debt ticked past $22 trillion this week, a record that comes despite continued economic growth, but neither political party appears to be making a priority of debt reduction.

Larry Kudlow, the director of President Trump’s National Economic Council, said on Thursday that the president was “concerned” about the rise of the debt, and that the administration would propose some reductions in federal spending in its next budget.

But he said the scale of the debt was not “a problem.”

During the first two years of the Trump administration, the debt increased by more than $2 trillion, in part because of the $1.5 trillion tax cut and large spending increases the president has signed into law.

Leading Democrats also have left the issue largely untouched. Several members of the emerging field of presidential candidates have proposed tax increases, but they have generally presented those plans as antidotes for economic inequality, not measures aimed primarily at curbing the debt.

[Honda]

I think it could be a problem I'm not sure that it's a critical problem. For example a while back if the Dow fell 500 points everybody was jumping off Bridges. Now it moves like that on a weekly basis. Years ago massive debt had a much stronger effect on our economy than it does now. But in the end the cows will come home

[UTAH]

Is our federal debt a critical problem? No, but it is a problem that costs us and will, eventually, hit a wall.

We pays millions of dollars each year on the debt. And, that's money spent that does not reduce the debt - it merely covers the debt.

Hunter

[mgrist]

I used to hate Clinton, didn't even like to hear him talk, I've learned a lot. Damn, this sucks not having a brain, I was re
-+ing about accomplishments of presidents the other day, Clinton is pretty much at the top of the list. It wasn't only a balanced budget it was many things and it's those details that I can't seem to retain. He dropped the deficit $360,000,000,000 in three years , he did a heck
of a lot for the schools. Smallest welfare rolls in years he did a large welfare reform. He lowered fereral taxes. Personally, I think I didn't want to hear any good but he did a lot. Now with Trump I don't like him but he is doing things that need to be done. Maybe i'll like him in a while, at least his accompliments.

[wacojoe]

We - all sides - long ago jumped on this debt horse and vowed to ride it until it drops. It’s lathered up to a fair thee well and stumbling a bit down the stretch now, but a good spurring should finish the job.

[Dave Grubb]

As a "traditional" Republican I still cling to the once loud support of fiscal responsibility---one more thing that went out the window with the rise of the posers.

[wacojoe]

You make that sound like it is a recent event, Dave, and that R’pubs weren’t an integral part of it for all my life.

[Dave Grubb]

You make that sound like it is a recent event, Dave.

No---at this point it is obvious it is the norm, but that does not require that I agree with it.

I think it was the neocons who first outed themselves as having no interest in fiscal restraint. While that mantra is long gone the posers continue to try to wrap themselves in that banner as they point their fingers at the libs as being less than they are.