The Deficit

One has to wonder at the ignorance of people who believe that the deficit has been caused by excessive government spending. They simply haven't been paying attention. The current deficit has three main causes: the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, the economic downturn, and, primarily, the Bush tax cuts. It's as if an individual decided to spend a little more and at the same time reduce income by working part time and then got laid off. The sudden increase in debt should come as no surprise. This study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities lays out the data.