White House Hits the Daily Double With Terrorist, Rove
Meanwhile, Forbes reports that 75,000 Iraqi and multinational forces are to be deployed in Baghad, and "Baghdad will [have] a curfew and a ban on personal weapons."
Rove continues in his role as chief political advisor to the President. Reuters reports that he is advising Republicans to make the economy a cornerstone of their campaigns this fall. At a $100 per person Republican fund-raiser, Rove said, "We have the strongest economy of any major industrialized country in the world."
This rose-colored glasses view of the economy discounts the national debt and Congressional deficit spending. Public debt stands at 65% of GDP. (chart) And as I wrote in November 2004: If we had closed the doors on almost every federal agency during fiscal 2005 -- that years' budget would still have been in the red.
Comments
“We have the strongest economy of any major industrialized country in the world.”
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This may be true, but I would also add that we have the worse public infrastructure, education and health care of all major industrialized countries.
We also have the highest infant mortality rate and lower life expectancies than the UK, France, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Norway, Italy, Israel, Ireland, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Canada, Austria and Australia.
Finally, we have the highest CO2 emissions per capita of any country on the planet.
I meet many Americans who believe ours is the greatest country in the world. Most of them have never left it. I think that there are many amazing things about the United States, but what I do know is that there are things we can learn from other countries. For example, the fact that a healthy diet, free or subsidized health care, and low pollution can buy you four more years of life.
PS
In short, GDP (debt or no debt) is not the only measure of well-being, especially if it benefits a small segment of society.