The 'Pledge to America' in one graph
Methodology here. The treatment of the GOP's vague spending cuts is extremely generous.
Update Link to methodology fixed.
By
Ezra Klein
| September 30, 2010; 2:55 PM ET
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Charts and Graphs
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Link to methodology doesn't link to methodology. I'd like to see it.
Posted by: caoilin | September 30, 2010 3:16 PM | Report abuse
Ezra, just a suggestion on visualization of the graph: deficits and negative numbers usually are shown below the 0 line and pointing down as they get bigger.
It is usually taken as a positive (good) thing when people see graphs with lines that go UP
Posted by: daniel1503 | September 30, 2010 3:52 PM | Report abuse
Dostoevsky said that socialism means trying to create Heaven on Earth, like a reverse tower of Babel. Turns out socialism is spending 2 % more on gov't than your opponent for one year. Who knew?
Posted by: klautsack | September 30, 2010 4:37 PM | Report abuse
Republicans will scoff at this sort of analysis and say that tax cuts for the wealthy will create so many jobs that we'll collect enough revenue to sufficiently reduce the deficit. That's ridiculous of course because we tried this already in the 2000s and job creation was actually virtually zero and the deficit actually went up. And lots of independent analysis disagrees with them as well. But that's what they would say, anyways.
Posted by: vvf2 | September 30, 2010 5:11 PM | Report abuse
"Republicans will scoff at this sort of analysis and say that tax cuts for the wealthy will create so many jobs that we'll collect enough revenue to sufficiently reduce the deficit. That's ridiculous of course because we tried this already in the 2000s and job creation was actually virtually zero and the deficit actually went up. And lots of independent analysis disagrees with them as well. But that's what they would say, anyways."
And yet job creation and deficits in the 2000s with the tax cuts and 2 recessions are better than the 2010s per this graph.
Whooops.
Posted by: krazen1211 | September 30, 2010 5:44 PM | Report abuse
Here's a much simpler solution.
Take the 2007 budget and use it.
Posted by: krazen1211 | September 30, 2010 5:45 PM | Report abuse
Its pretty clear that "handing the keys" back to the Republicans will do nothing but drive us further over the aybss. They are not in this to fix anything.
Posted by: historynw | October 1, 2010 11:25 AM | Report abuse
krazen1211, if we're going to talk about jobs created and deficit impact as a guideline for which year's budget to use, I think 1999 is a better model than 2007.
Posted by: getjiggly | October 1, 2010 11:56 AM | Report abuse
Republicans sure LOVE deficits!
Posted by: angie12106 | October 1, 2010 1:41 PM | Report abuse
Why the Pledge to America bombed -- http://technorati.com/politics/article/why-the-pledge-to-america-bombed/
Posted by: jimmyzuma | October 1, 2010 2:00 PM | Report abuse
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