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Article: LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES SWITCH POSITIONS ON FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT.(Editorial)
- Article from:
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Article date:
- November 6, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Seattle Post-Intelligencer. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the Dialog Corporation by Gale Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: MICHAEL M. WEINSTEINAnti-poverty activist
After a four-year absence, the federal budget deficit has returned - and so has the politically contorted debate over it.
The deficit is $159 billion for the year that ended Sept. 30. Democratic leaders warn that the current deficit is a danger to the economy and prevents the government from spending federal dollars on pressing social needs. The Bush administration dismisses the importance of the deficit, noting that it amounts to only about 1.5 percent of gross domestic product.
Not so long ago, these positions were reversed. Liberals said deficits could be used to energize a sluggish ...