federal debt – Behind The Black

Obama asks for more power to consolidate government agencies

January 13, 2012 10:18 am Robert Zimmerman

President Obama today asked Congress for additional power to consolidate six government agencies.

While this at first sounds like a very good idea, I must admit that it is difficult for me to trust this man with more power, at any time. In addition, how serious can we take his claim of desiring to save money when his administration is on a pace to increase the federal debt by more than $6 trillion, exceeding the debt accumulated by all Presidents from George Washington to Bill Clinton?

Some historical context in discussing the federal debt

November 20, 2011 8:41 am Robert Zimmerman

Some historical context in discussing the federal debt.

When Bill Clinton was president, the national debt rose by an annual average of $193 billion; when the profligate George W. Bush was in the White House, the yearly debt increases averaged $612 billion. On Obama’s watch, by contrast, the federal debt has been skyrocketing by more than $1.5 trillion per year. It took 40 presidents and nearly two centuries, from George Washington to Ronald Reagan , for the US government to accumulate $1.5 trillion in indebtedness. The 44th president – aided and abetted by Congress – enlarges the federal debt by that amount every 12 months.

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Starbucks CEO calls for business boycott of campaign contributions until debt is solved

August 25, 2011 2:31 pm Robert Zimmerman

The CEO of Starbucks, a big time contributor to past Democratic candidates, is organizing an end to all campaign contributions until a long term solution to the federal debt is solved.

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Federal debt increased $4 trillion under Obama, the most under any president

August 22, 2011 8:59 pm Robert Zimmerman

Just remember, it is never his fault: The federal debt increased $4 trillion under Obama, the most by any president.

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U.S. National Parks’ Cultural and Natural Resources Threatened

July 1, 2011 6:55 pm Robert Zimmerman

The pigs begin squealing again: According to a report written by a D.C. advocacy group, the national parks face serious problems due to a lack of sufficient funds.

It’s never enough. The National Park Service budget [pdf] has grown from $2.5 billion in 2003 to $3.1 billion in 2011. At the same time, they have increased fees on all public lands, often introducing fees where none had ever existed before.

Somehow, they managed for decades on smaller budgets. At this time of unimaginable federal debt, I have no sympathy for them, despite the fact that I am a passionate lover of the natural wonders contained in the national parks.