The deficits of Summers
Larry Summers said the most amazing thing on Meet the Press:
… we are going to recognize that the budget deficit is absolutely crucial. But so is the deficit in what this country’s done in education; so is the deficit in what this country’s done in, in infrastructure. There are a number of deficits that we have to address if we’re going to compete going forward, and the president’s committed to doing–to addressing all of those deficits.
Translation: we want to reframe the discussion. A budget deficit means we’re spending too much. An infrastructure deficit means we’re not spending enough. By using two opposite meanings of the word “deficit” in the same sentence, we can claim to be addressing “all of the deficits” while implying that the Republicans are only concerned about “one of the deficits”.
August 15th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
noun
the property of being an amount by which something is less than expected or required
an excess of liabilities over assets (usually over a certain period) .
synonyms
shortage, shortfall
A budget deficit is in currency. Currency is a human construct that enables people to keep score. What about those of us who don’t want to compete? Why do we have to waste our best hours doing make-believe work when there are more important things that need doing. Parenting, for one thing and caring for the sick and dying. You can’t trade enough currency, if no one loves you enough to take care of you when you are dying. I took care of my grandmother when she was dying and you couldn’t pay me enough to do that for someone I didn’t love.