The Obama Administration based its domestic policies on the assumption that its stimulus package passed in February, 2009, would turn around the economy. The stimulus money has been spent slowly and little impact was visible by 212. The Treasury assumed that the tax revenue would be there to fund [[Direct spending|permanent new spending]] programs in areas such as health care and greening the economy. It assumed that the rich will recover enough to pay new, increased taxes. Tax collections only returned to the 2007 alltime, pre-recession level in 2012. The deficit for fiscal 2009 alone was an astonishing $1.4 trillion, or 10% of GDP. To maintain the appearance of business as usual, keep Social Security and disability payments flowing and maintain defence spending, the federal government added $5 trillion to the [[national debt]] with borrowed money from abroad. | The Obama Administration based its domestic policies on the assumption that its stimulus package passed in February, 2009, would turn around the economy. The stimulus money has been spent slowly and little impact was visible by 212. The Treasury assumed that the tax revenue would be there to fund [[Direct spending|permanent new spending]] programs in areas such as health care and greening the economy. It assumed that the rich will recover enough to pay new, increased taxes. Tax collections only returned to the 2007 alltime, pre-recession level in 2012. The deficit for fiscal 2009 alone was an astonishing $1.4 trillion, or 10% of GDP. To maintain the appearance of business as usual, keep Social Security and disability payments flowing and maintain defence spending, the federal government added $5 trillion to the [[national debt]] with borrowed money from abroad. |