I don't know how old everyone is on this board. I get the impression most are in the same age group as me, middle age or sliding down the far side of it.

But I remember during the "Reagan deficits" that the boogeyman was Japan buying up all our debt (China didn't have money back then). Anybody remember when Japan was going to end up owning everything in the U.S.? All the buildings? How Japan's way of running businesses was going to blow our doors off? That was all at least a boom, recession, and another boom ago.

I'm not saying deficits and debt are something to ignore, but economic growth is the best cure, along with keeping the reins in on government expansion. In the latter department, neither party has impressed me with its performance in recent years.