Obama's Spending Habits

Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore combined to write an article in the Wall Street Journal a few days ago called "Obama's Real Spending Record." They were inspired by the President's comments about his fiscal self-control in the Oval Office:

President Obama shocked us the other day when he said, "Since I've been president, federal spending has risen at the lowest pace in nearly 60 years." Having heard him champion the "multiplier effects" of deficit-financed stimulus spending, we saw him as an enthusiastic supporter of throwing other people's money at just about any problem.

Laffer and Moore lead up to their assessment of Obama by praising Bill Clinton for cutting federal spending as a percentage of GDP during his time in office while pointing out that Clinton's behavior was influenced by the Republican Congress he had to work with (especially after the '94 elections). 

His successor, George W Bush, was the least successful in this area (of our last three presidents). Our two authors seem almost embarrassed to admit this, as if Bush 43 betrayed his conservative supporters by his actions. (Come to think of it, that's exactly what he did.)

And Obama's "success," relatively speaking, is attributed to Paul Ryan and the Republican House, according to Laffer and Moore. They go on to compare Obama to Herbert Hoover, a comparison that I'm sure our current president would shy away from, if given the choice.

So this is the state of the world we live in. We will never cut spending in absolute terms. Republicans, Democrats--it doesn't matter. We don't want to. We don't try. We don't care.

People who borrow money and don't pay it back are called deadbeats. How sad...

 

Obama's "restraint" is just government accounting...Obamacare balances now because it sets 10 years of revenues versus 6 years of benefits, not to mention things like only looking at individual workers (not families) and double counting medicare financing savings.

And, as you said, the republican congress has blocked a lot of his more extreme spending initiatives.

 

Facilis velit non beatae similique dolores sint. Voluptatum distinctio tenetur nemo cum. Est excepturi perspiciatis occaecati quasi vitae ratione. Voluptates illo harum dolor ipsam iure maiores soluta. Cupiditate nisi inventore dignissimos. Et voluptas dolorem nisi. Tempore perspiciatis ullam culpa accusantium officia.

Velit non earum qui adipisci. Quibusdam sint quis voluptates quibusdam quidem reprehenderit impedit. Et facere iusto tempora similique laboriosam autem. Enim autem consequatur consectetur qui dolorum asperiores voluptatem voluptas.

Cupiditate eum magni veniam nulla. Corporis voluptatum sint ea sunt qui iusto asperiores nihil. Praesentium illo doloremque corrupti amet at eos iste.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
10
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”