TO MOST Americans, maintaining spending at current levels would mean spending the same amount in 2013 as we spent in 2012. However, to those experienced in the mysterious ways of Washington, maintaining spending at current levels means . . .
. . . spending $3.5 trillion this year and $4.5 trillion in five years. To most Americans, that's a trillion dollars in spending growth.
The Political Class, on the other hand, would consider holding spending unchanged at current levels to be a massive spending cut. Why? Because it wouldn't allow for the trillion dollar spending growth that is already built into the budget.
. . . .
Some in the Political Class may simply be confused themselves. Others, however, are being intentionally deceptive. They are more interested in protecting government spending than in representing the American people.
(Scott Rasmussen, "Let's Speak Plain English About Spending Cuts," rasmussenreports.com, March 1, 2013)
It's not just the Political Class, Mr. Rasmussen.
Our local newspaper sings from the same hymnbook.
Are the editors confused themselves or being intentionally deceptive?
Understanding Mr. Rasmussen's point is a big step toward understanding much else, including the sequester and the federal debt ceiling.
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