People are dumb. The President needs to use charts.

Ross Perot was so effective with his charts that he got 20% of the vote as an independent.

The first chart would ask: "How Much Is A Trillion Dollars?"

The second chart would show our national debt in 1980, the last year of the Carter Presidency. It would show our national debt at less than $1 trillion dollars.

The third chart would show the national debt of just over $4 trillion dollars when the Reagan and Bush One presidencies ended. It had quadrupled in just 12 years.

The fourth chart would show the debt for the Bill Clinton Administration. It would show that in 1998, 1999, and 2000, the budget was balanced and there was a surplus at the end of Clintons term of over $230 billion dollars.

The fifth chart would show what economists predicted for the next 10 years after 2001. It would show an estimate of over $5 trillion dollars surplus with a balanced budget. It would show a debt of about $5 1/2 trillion dollars.

The sixth chart would show Bush's first budget, with a small surplus left over from the Clinton years. Then it would show the stock market falling, with the housing market crashing, with the bailout of the big banks.

The seventh chart would show the last budget of George W Bush as the one that was left on the desk of Barack Obama. It would show a total debt of our nation at about $11.2 trillion dollars. It had grown a 1000% since Jimmy Carter.

Indeed the next chart could show the present deficit of $14.2 trillion, an increase of about $3 trillion dollars.

The President could show a chart of exactly where this money was spent. Unemployment, caused by the Recession that started in 2007. The stimulus to save the jobs of teachers, cops, and firemen, at least for a while. Also, the 30% that went to average citizens as a taxcut. The wars, etc.

Also, there should be a chart showing how much Social Security had collected for the fund in the last 10 years as compared to how much was spent on benefits? Some experts say it can pay full benefits until about 2036, then would have to cut to 75% of benefits if there are no changes? If there are no changes...?

People need to understand the debt and deficit better. Charts might be useful?

That would seem to work better for Republicans.

that President Obama has spent more than everyone else combined. It simply isn't true. At least, not yet.

Oh man that is a killer.

You should understand that by now.

I think it'd be helpful for a lot of people.

I doubt many people here know what that looks like.

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Yes, Perot used charts and got a solid 20%.

I believe the president is aiming for more than that.