These days when I hear the financial news I think of Alfred E. Neuman. Remember Alfred? Mad comics’ doofy looking stalwart? Remember his pet phase? “What? Me worry?”
That phrase keeps popping into my mind: A projected $1.2 trillion federal deficit in fiscal 2009. What? Me worry?
With perhaps an $800 billion Obama stimulus spending package added in. What? Me worry?
With trillion dollar-plus deficits for several years to come. What? Me worry?
And an economy that can’t possibly bail out this borrowing with extra tax revenues any time in the foreseeable future. What. Me worry?
And an aging population that needs more government aid. And foreign commitments that require more and more military spending. And China cutting back on buying U.S. Treasuries, purchases that have done so much to finance government deficits in years past. And deteriorating infrastructure. And burgeoning environmental problems.
What? Me worry?
Yes. Me worry. Me worry a lot.
(You can visit Michael Silverstein’s Web site here.)