There is an eternal debate in our country as to why we have large Federal budget deficits.  Many claim it is because we are spending too much money.  Others believe the wealthy are not taxed enough.  After reading the quotes below, perhaps you will agree with me that the reason we have budget deficits is that our leaders simply cannot count.

“Every month that we do not have an economic recovery package 500 million Americans lose their jobs.” – Nancy Pelosi.  The United States is a nation of about 310 million people.

“He is proposing to privatize a big part of Social Security and he’s proposing to take $1 trillion, a million billion dollars out of the Social Security trust fund and give it as a tax incentive to young workers.” – Al Gore, criticizing George Bush’s Social Security plan.  A trillion is one thousand billion, not a million billion.

“I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in. That’s the America I love.” – Mitt Romney

“In his own budget, projection of 1.4 trillion dollar deficit this year – 1.4 trillion dollars. That’s four-times larger… three and a half times larger than the biggest budget under the Bush administration.” – Senator Judd  Gregg, holding up all five fingers as he spoke the words, “That’s four-times larger.”

“I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go?” – Senator Barack Obama during the Presidential campaign.

“Look, John’s last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs.” –Vice President Joe Biden

“Making products that we sell around the world, stamped with three proud words: Made in the U.S.A.” – Barack Obama

“Maybe I should offer a good thanks to the distinguished members of the majority, the Republicans, my chairman and others, for giving us an opportunity to have a deliberative constitutional discussion that reinforces the sanctity of this nation and how well it is that we have lasted some 400 years.” – Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

“My favorite word, that is really easy.  My favorite word is ‘The Word.’” – Nancy Pelosi.  “The Word,” is literally two words.  It can also mean the “Word of God” or “The Bible.”  Either way, it does not represent a single word.

“Of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, 800 million billion dollars of that goes to people making a minimum of a million dollars.” – Vice President Joe Biden.  That number amounts to 800 quadrillion dollars, more than all the money in the world.

“One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is ‘to be prepared.'” – Vice President Dan Quale.

“Ten thousand people died, an entire town destroyed.” – Barack Obama, on a tornado that killed 12 people.

“The members of our highest court are granted life tenure, often serving long after the Presidents who appointed them.  And they are charged with the vital task of applying principals put to paper more than 20 centuries ago.” – Barack Obama.  Twenty centuries is two-thousand years.

“Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people.” – George W. Bush

 “Today we have two Vietnams, side by side, north and south.” – Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.  Vietnam is one country.

 “We have a lot of kids who don’t know what works means. They think work is a four-letter word.” – Hillary Clinton

Of course, even though we have fun with political gaffes, I do believe that these politicians can count.  How else could they become mega-millionaires living off taxpayer money?

I learned quite a bit researching quotes for this article.

First, many so-called “stupid quotes” were simply taken out of context.  Second, some gaffes are attributed to the wrong politician.  Fourth, most were just slips of the tongue.  And third, it is a sad commentary on our society when grown adults cannot count to five. 

Finally, perhaps the biggest gaffe of all was made by the Americans who voted for some of these politicians in the first place.

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