The drivers of our debt

The drivers of our debt

By Steve Benen

A leading House Republican recently proclaimed recently that policymakers should be focusing on “the drivers of our debt.”

<...>

It’d be amusing if it weren’t so ridiculous. Literally the exact same people whose fiscal irresponsibility created the deficit mess are the ones whining constantly about the problem they’re responsible for. Worse, they keep blaming everyone but themselves. Worse still, they’re prepared to crash the economy on purpose unless the solution to their own fiasco meets their approval.

This isn’t in the realm of spin or opinion. The numbers are unambiguous: Republicans took a large surplus, turned it into massive deficit. Republicans could have paid off the debt within a decade, but they instead chose to pursue an ambitious agenda without paying for it.

And now they don’t want the nation to pay the bills.

<...>

So, when Republicans call for us to focus on “the drivers of our debt,” I’d suggest taking them up on the idea.