I admit I don't know much about economics. That said its hard for me to see how this changes anything. We were 10 trillion dollars in debt and all the candidates, except Paul, didn't have a problem with that. What is it about 11 trillion that causes the politicians and us to suddenly sit up and take notice?

No candidate promised to balance the budget in their first year, second year, third year, etc. By the time Obama or McCain finished their first term in office the debt would have been way over 11 trillion anyway, now it will be over 12 trillion. Is that the magic number that is just too much debt?

I'd like some genius of the economy to explain to me why we could afford all these tax cuts and all the additional spending at 10 trillion but it all becomes unaffordable at 11 trillion debt.

The whole scheme seemed like a bribe to people for their vote, income tax cut for the middle class financed from letting the Bush cuts expire, an energy rebate from a windfall tax on oil companies. This with a projected deficit next year of 400 billion. This is not just Obama, Hillary had her payoffs on the table too and so does McCain.

I understand you don't get elected by telling the American people we can't afford any tax cuts, not for anyone, not if we want to stop the exploding deficit and begin to pay it down. Not if we want to invest in rebuilding the infrastructure. Not if we want to reset our whole nation on a path away from fossil fuels and into alternative energies.

To all those people who thought we could afford all these tax cuts and new spending when we had 10 trillion in debt and thought Obama was so wonderful for proposing them and are now oh so worried that we can now not afford them. What is it about 11 trillion dollars in debt that changes everything while 10 trillion dollars in debt was just hunky-dorey?