What everyone should be focused on is the sheer awfulness of the economic projections. OMB has unemployment still at 9.7% at the end of 2010; still at 8% at the end of 2011. These numbers cry out for a more aggressive economic policy. If that’s politically impossible, we’re really in terrible shape.True, the projections are for a "recovery" with a 9.7% unemployment rate in 2010 and 8.6% in 2011 (not sure how much of a recovery it will feel like).
But, how much more aggressive should the government be? While Krugman may be right that it isn't enough, it is a solid $2 Trillion more than was previously budgeted. Politico details:
The White House Office of Management and Budget’s Mid-Session Review, an annual update between budgets, put the 10-year deficit estimate at $9.051 trillion, up from the previously projected $7 trillion. The administration had leaked the figure over the weekend.
How large is $9 trillion? Well, it is about $3 trillion more than the cumulative deficit from 1980-2009 (ignores inflation, but a sizable chunk of change none-the-less).
Source: Whitehouse.gov
How much of a factor is the graying of the population in the short-term (next 10 years) deficit? I just heard that it took us 30 years (1980-2010) to add 14 million people to the 65+ category, and then it skyrockets: 15 million more between 2010-20, another 17 milliion between 2020-2030.
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