would be used to pay for all of these new programs. When will it end? The hypcrosy is deafening. Is Congress stupid or do they think that the people are? THERE AIN'T ANY SURPLUS. What are they going to pay off the bonds with? More paper. What is a dollar? It is debt or a promise to pay. What happens when interest rates rise? The interest on the debt rises and decreases the surplus. Remember this administration converted much of the debt from long term 30 year bonds to short term debt where the interest rates could go up substantially within two years, destroy the surplus and cause a recession even if there were no other problems, ( drought, Y2k, unemployment, no consumer savings, loss of confidence in the dollar by overseas investors and governments, repatriation of funds back to Japan etc. etc. etc.) Even Curly and Shep can understand this. Why can't Congress or are they lying to us again? This group is going to tell us the truth about Y2k, the safety of our money in the bank and the inability to find and fix all of the Y2k computer problems? I do not expect the economy to be functioning by about February 2000, do you?

-- Moe (Moe@3stooges.gom), August 06, 1999

Answers

It shows what they really think of "us", the people. A hypothetical plan based on a hypothetical surplus.

And the Democrats, Repulicans, and Bill argue fiercly about it!

Your premise is right: it means nothing.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 06, 1999.

I just don't understand how they can carry on the charade. I could not. I simply couldn't.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), August 06, 1999.

Mara: The problem is the demos & repub's know that a majority of Americans(the great unwashed) believe what slick willy is saying about a threat to their Social Security & Medicare. Perception due to ignorance and laziness. They simply will not believe there is no surplus because the "in group" said there was one!

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), August 06, 1999.