The Mises Community
An online community for fans of Austrian economics and libertarianism, featuring forums, user blogs, and more.

Surplus of the Clinton Years

rated by 0 users
Not Answered This post has 0 verified answers | 5 Replies | 5 Followers

Top 50 Contributor
375 Posts
Points 9,395
ViennaSausage posted on Thu, Jun 12 2008 11:30 AM

Was there really a surplus?  Or were the numbers cooked?

  • | Post Points: 20

All Replies

Top 50 Contributor
349 Posts
Points 5,690
fsk replied on Thu, Jun 12 2008 11:47 AM

There actually really was a surplus.

The amount of private debt substantially increased while Clinton was President, allowing a surplus.  Further, a lot of dollars flowed to the former Soviet-bloc countries, helping a surplus.

 

I have my own blog at FSK's Guide to Reality. Let me know if you like it.

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 75 Contributor
Male
145 Posts
Points 3,005
Andrew replied on Thu, Jun 12 2008 3:42 PM

He raided the SS trust fund

Democracy is nothing more than replacing bullets with ballots

 

If Pro is the opposite of Con. What is the opposite of Progress?

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Male
356 Posts
Points 6,305

There was no surplus. The numbers were fudged, because the budget only mentions future liabilities as an addendum to the budget report. Just like today there is an actualy debt of 60+ trillion with all the obligations, likewise the debt during the clinton presidency grew, just rather than current debt, it was future obligations in the form of social security.

 Conveniently, these numbers aren't mentioned...

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity."

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 25 Contributor
Male
535 Posts
Points 9,685

Are you saying that Clinton basically took out bunch of loans or that he took money out of social security?

 

"There is only one innate right, freedom (independence from being constrained by another's choice), insofar as it can coexist with the freedom of every other in accordance with a universal law." - Immanuel Kant

  • | Post Points: 20
Top 50 Contributor
Male
356 Posts
Points 6,305

Not necessarily, I just know that during clinton's rule, budget deficits on future liabilities increased. This doesn't necessarily mean he made new promises on pentions, etc. merely that the previous promises were racking up.

 

"What we do in life, echoes in eternity."

  • | Post Points: 5
Page 1 of 1 (6 items) | RSS

Ludwig von Mises Institute | 518 West Magnolia Avenue | Auburn, Alabama 36832-4528

Phone: 334.321.2100 · Fax: 334.321.2119

contact@Mises.org | webmaster | AOL-IM MainMises

Mises.org sitemap