A truly stupid RW ad. (Aimed at economic illiterates.)

I don't recall the group... Americans for a Responsible America or some shit... but they have an ad running about the deficit that is comically bogus even by the standards of such ads.

It compares the national debt as a % of GDP to the housing market. (In such a senseless way that it feels obliged to have a disclaimer saying that the analogy is not perfect)

Our national debt is something like 90% of annual GDP. Soon it will reach 100% of annual GDP and we will be underwater!!! America will be bankrupt.

What does it mean for a house to be "underwater"? It means the amount owed on the house is more than the house can be sold for. So very soon our national debt will be more than America can be sol... okay, wait a minute...

Let's try again. The federal government takes in 3,4,5 trillion a year, depending on the year. And our national debt is something like 13 trillion. So if I had a house with a mortgage that was equal to 3 years of my salary I would be bankrupt.... is that right? Hmmmm.

Well, anyway, the key point is that we will soon be "underwater" because we will be below some arbitrary line a guy in an ad drew and then labeled "underwater."

And that's terrifying!

And starting a new war is kind of like supersizing your fries. :crazy:

Well, other than the ones that are parked on their shoulders, of course.