[NMC EXP]

"Deficit as a % of GDP" is an irrelevant and misleading statistic

Absolutely.

The govt is fond of quoting top level stats to paint a rosy picture.

Another favorite is "Per Capita Income" (GDP divided by population). It would mean something only if income were evenly distributed.

Regards

J.R.

[leprechaun9]

When I hear someone express some data as a function of "GDP", I always ask who owns the economy - THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

In the Historical Tables published by OMB in FY2000, the DEBT had leveled off at ~$6 TRILLION. In the FY2005 budget that the President just sent to Congress, it shows the DEBT in FY2009 exceeding ~$10.5 TRILLION and increasing sharply!

Source:www.omb.gov - Budget documents - Historical Tables FY2005.