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Tenchu

03/08/09 10:10 PM

#77228 RE: Sarmad #77219

Sarmad, > An economy that has spare capacity can pay back its deficits from added production. The capacity is already there.

The capacity to make what? More gas-guzzling SUVs from Detroit? More homes in areas where no one is going to move to?

We've been living in a consumer-driven economy for decades now. Fueled by easy money from numerous sources, but most recently the real-estate boom, we as a nation have been collectively living outside of our means.

Now we're tightening our belts, and if we're honest with ourselves, we'll find that there is a lot that can be tightened. But the message coming out of Washington once again is "Spend like there is no tomorrow!" In other words, they are once again trying to postpone the day of reckoning.

Hence when you say that the problem is consumer demand, you are more correct than you realize. What's the solution? Artificially boost the demand once again, or start painfully working off the excesses of this consumer-driven economy?

To an insensitive elitist jerk like me, the answer is obvious. But it will never be politically viable, so instead we're going to do what we do best: postpone the inevitable. And that's assuming a measure of "competence" from the current administration (since incompetence ironically means we'll face the inevitable sooner).

Tenchu
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Professor MD

03/08/09 11:05 PM

#77230 RE: Sarmad #77219

Dear Sarmad. Re: It is one thing to decide how to distribute taxes. It is another to pretend taxes can be cut for everyone, and run deficits while in full employment.

Deficit can be paid back by increasing the Gross National product (GNP). GNP can be increased by increasing productivity per worker. Increased productivity requires investment by business owners. Net income after tax by business owners is the source of efficient investment.