From USGovernmentSpending.com.
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) on Scott Hennen's radio show:
"It is really quite sobering what has happened. From 100% of our economy was private prior to September of 2008, but as of Tuesday, the federal government has now taken ownership or control of 51% of the private economy."
Thanks to Talking Points Memo for digging that up.
High school students of economics will remember that the economy is measured in the unbelievably large numbers that make up Gross Domestic Product, or GDP. In turn, GDP is made up of personal spending, private investment, government spending and exports minus imports. As you can see in the chart above, the U.S. economy hasn't been 100 private since, um, forevs.
The chart above shows the percentage of government spending in the overall economy rising recently as the recession set in and banks (and people) needed more help.
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I know that not everyone can have common sense, and not everyone can be a Rhodes Scholar or valedictorian. I realize that in this country we elect people based on looks and the words they say that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside. But isn't it time we issued IQ tests and Polygraphs for people who want to run for office? It must be so distracting to stand next to Michelle Bachman and have to hear the wind whistling between her ears. Oh and would someone please explain how those fancy fangled recording devices work to Grassley, please? This is just embarrassing.
It is beyond belief that people actually ELECTED Michele Bachmann. Do they not feel any embarrassment whatsoever? Even I'm embarrassed, and I, thankfully, don't live anywhere near Minnesota. I won't be a bit surprised when, the next time Hale Bopp comes drifting by, she's found running to the store to buy Nikes!
I'm not only from Minnesota, I live in the district that M. Bachmann represents and, YES, I am totally embarassed by her. I did not vote for her either time (She slid in on a special election the first time). We are trying our hardest to be rid of her. She is like a bad case of athlete's foot - just when you think you have it gone, BAM, another flare-up.
Is it sad that I think this is one of the least craziest things Bachmann has said?
Yes it is lower on the MB crazy scale. Yes it is sad that this would rank lower on anyone's crazy scale.
Remeber that one time at Obama Re-Education Camp where she said her kids would never attend it? Then her son volunteers there? Ya know... I'm pretty liberal and I'm starting to think we do need Death Panels, just not for the elderly. Let's "Indoctrinate" the criminally stupid.
It's pretty darn close to zero. And the graph only goes to 1903. For you idiots, the government started a long time before 1900. See the trend in the graph, now go back another 120 years. Imagine what it looked like. She was making a point you idiots, and she obviously was correct about it. What is wrong with you guys. I'd love to understand your thought process.
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How is 35-36% of Government spending in September 2008 (you know, when she said it was 100% private) 'pretty darn close to 0' as you state? The percentage jumped from 35% to 45%, but hey, using your reasoning that 35% is pretty darn close to zero, the 10% increase is pretty darn close to zero increase, right?
Okay Mark, let's go with your thought, that it was all private spending until Sept 2008. Considering the state of the economy at that time ( i.e. before the AIG bailout and the subsequent TARP bailout of Wall Street), then what are you and Bachman trying to say? That you want to go back and relive that spectacular crash? That we should bounce along the bottom and experience our second great depression?
Sounds to me like you make the best argument around for federal regulation and moving away from the unregulated free market theory that we've operated under for the last 30 years. Why would we want to continue that? It didn't work in the late 1800's, it didn't work in the 20's and it didn't work in the last decade.
Remember Einstein's famous quote that the definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results?
Be careful what you say Big Bear, your words might be thought of as that of a terrorist. I wouldn't of course, but your liberal friends might.
what a waste of time to refute michelle, "i don't care whether it's true," bachmann with facts; or "don't interrupt me with the facts, while i'm attempting to scam my base for campaign dollars."
I also love how the trend goes DOWN during the Clinton years. Growing up, I lived with the meme of the "Tax and Spend Demmycrats" and took that as true, but that meme appears to be dead now. My children get to live with the notion of the fiscally irresponsible Republicans.
Heard tonight that Bachmann is going to be on "Meet the Press" with Jim DeMint of SC.
So... any chance Rachel Maddow could be a surprise guest? That would be just too awesome! :)
Wait a minute Mark,
Isn't it your party the one that looks for perceived threats in everything? For crying out loud Glen Beck is probably an un-diagnosed dillusional paranoid and you're on here trying to stick that label on liberals?
In the first year of Obama's presidency you guys have claimed he was foreign, a communist, a nazi, you've accused him of "pulling the plug on grandma" and bailing out G.M. so that he could use "On Star" to spy on people.
Conservatives are a joke man. Seriously, issues aside, you guys say and do things to publicly humiliate yourselves daily.
As evidence, see your comment above.
lOL. Good post Web, and thanks. I needed the laugh.
BTW, you forgot the Muslim antiChrist label. That's one of my favorites! :}