Cover; Title Page; Copyright Page; Dedication; Table of Contents; Illustrations; Series Editors' Foreword; Acknowledgments; Introduction-Political Conflict over Deficits and Debt: What's It About? What's At Stake?; PART I The Shape of the Federal Budget; 1. Federal Deficits and Debt; 2. Budget Pies: An Overview of Federal Spending and Revenue; 3. Do Entitlements Entitle? Is What's Mandated Mandatory?; 4. How Discretionary Is Discretionary Spending?; 5. Raising Federal Tax Revenue; 6. Predicting Future Deficits and Debt; PART II The Politics of Deficits and Debt
7. Deficit Hawks Versus Deficit Doves8. ""Starve the Beast"" Versus Protect the New Deal; 9. The Partisan War Over America's Fiscal Future: 2009-2013; 10. The Future of Deficits and Debt; Index
Summary
This citizen's guide reveals how differing views of America inform the arguments over deficits and debt. By the time readers finish the book, they will understand that the conflict over deficits and debt is not simply about where to cut or add spending, but instead is a struggle over national priorities and visions for the future
