[RUSure]

I agree with rifle man...
Deficits do matter, especially if they are growing. Payments on interest cut into what we can afford for other programs (or don't allow us to lower taxes). They also have the effect of raising long-term interest rates. This makes it harder for average Americans to 'afford' the American dream (house, college education, starting a business, etc.).

[lsmith1990]

"'I agree with rifle man...
Deficits do matter, especially if they are growing. Payments on interest cut into what we can afford for other programs (or don't allow us to lower taxes). They also have the effect of raising long-term interest rates. This makes it harder for average Americans to 'afford' the American dream (house, college education, starting a business, etc.)"'

So much wrong here I'm not sure where to start.

What matters is the Debt/GDP ratio and whether it is rising or falling, not to dollar size of the annual deficit or total debt. Are you suggesting no deficits during a recession? tax increases perhaps? Herbert Hoover?

There is NO statistically significant relationship between deficits and interest rates, in an open economy. Housing is more affordable today than perhaps at any time in American history, this despite a 400b deficit.

A lot of Keynesian-think going on from the previous poster