A picture graph is worth 1,000 pages of congressional lawmaking.
The chart on the left was compiled by Bloomberg, and shows the budget surplus / deficit as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product.
I came across this chart this morning, and mentally did an overlay of historical events. That led me to wonder what a longer historical perspective would show.
Deficits since the Civil War
I found the most interesting and interactive website to help me with this. The chart below shows the Federal Deficit as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product since 1860. You'll want to note some significant events that have taken place in our nation since that time, and overlay the events on the chart.
The American Civil War
1861 to 1865
US Involvement in World War I
1917 to 1919
US Involvement in World War II
1941 to 1945
The First Gulf War
1990 to 1991
The Iraq War
2003 - 2009
And that leads me to wonder this: To what event will history attribute that blue spike on the right, a deficit never equaled except in a time of world war?
Back to that first chart...
From the TARP bill to the current legislation passed over the weekend under the heading "health care reform," it's apparent that none of the elected representatives we voted into office take the time to READ, EVALUATE, and UNDERSTAND the legislation they enact into law.
"There wasn't time," I've heard lawmakers say on CNN, "the crisis was so great that we had to act..."
I beg to differ.
- You can't run your real estate business like that.
- You can't operate your household like that.
- We ought not to let our representatives run our country like that.
The Voter Revolution
2009 to ...
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I'm Mike in Tucson, and I blog here on the Active Rain Real Estate Network just about every day.
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Very interesting! They are obviously also not paying ANY attention to what their constituents want.
Marchel,
Thanks for being the first to comment! Just the reason to vote them out of office!
Mike in Tucson
Amen! What eye opening statistics. Great site you found. And you are right - we couldn't run our home or business this way.
That picture make my Heart Ache! I feel like a lamb on the way to slaughter.
Mike, you are a big graph person- and its a wonderful tool to follow how bad the situation is ...
Kathleen, That may be because you we are.
"it's apparent that none of the elected representatives we voted into office take the time to READ, EVALUATE, and UNDERSTAND the legislation they enact into law."
Mike, That's because they don't live under the laws they make us live under. There needs to be very short term limits.
Doreen,
I'm in agreement with term limits, but not with the "sheep to slaughter" metaphor. We (unlike the sheep) have a voice. We VOTE.
Judy,
Thanks for having the courage to comment. Now organize and VOTE!
Kathleen,
The biblical reference speaks about sheep being "dumb." In the context, it means that they have no voice. We do have a voice, each one of us. WE CAN VOTE~go volunteer to help the campaign of someone in your district with whom you agree, and help get out the vote.
Kathryn,
I appreciate you coming by and commenting.
Mike in Tucson
Boy the graphs really bring it home...we voted here in NJ and voted the incumbent out of office. The sad thing is when polled, NJ voters said they didn't think anyone could fix our fiscal problems! On the national level, we're in BIG trouble.
Mike,
That is very interesting. Unless there are some big changes, it's going to be a rough ride! Can we hang on?
Mike: We do have a voice through our Vote. They may not listen to us right now but if Americans will remember all of this when they go to Vote, they will hear us then and I can't wait.
Laura: I applaud you in New Jersey for voting out the incumbent!
Mike,
I would think that we are paying our elected voices in DC to know / read what it is they are voting on to become law. I would think that knowledge and action would go hand in hand. FORGET THE KNEE JERK REACTIONS!!
There is always time to make sure things are done right!
Mike, there is only one way cure our national legislators, Publicly Funded Elections.
Our Senators and Representatives are dependent on special interests and big business for campaign money to gain and remain in office.
I believe that Arizona implemented public funding for your state legislators, it is now time to take it nationally.
I agree it is time for a The Voter Revolution
Publicly Funded Elections will put us back in charge by severely limiting big money political influence.
Some did vote for "change" but I agree, it's time for a real change and the voters can do it.
Hi Mike, you're right the picture is worth more than the 1000 pages.
Mike - Isn't it sad that people know more about American Idol than they do about what is happening to our country? Any economist with any credibility will tell you that you cannot spend your way out of a recession. We are spending our way into oblivion. This is not a Democrat issue or a Republican issue. This is an American issue. People have got to wake up, become informed and work to help elect responsible people to office.
Mike - I knew that's what the number equated to, but seeing those graphs makes me so mad... I will be at every election making my voice heard, and hope everyone else does the same. Voter turnout has been increasing in our area. Here's to 100% turnout at the next presidential election!
Karen,
It's congress that's not reading their own bills, and the House of Representatives (a misnomer if ever there was one) is up for re-election next year. As the Aussies, say, "Good on ye."
Jane,
Amen to that! It's not a partisan thing, is it?!
Mary,
Thanks for stopping by; are you going to get involved in your local politics?
Teral,
Go get 'em!
Bill,
I'm for that!
Don,
You said it!
Donna,
I know I'm saying something right when the post gets hijacked! Love it; thanks for commenting.
Cynthia,
Yes we can! Yes, we will!
Laura,
Good job in NJ! Now for 2010, let's keep up the momentum.
Mike in Tucson