General discussion & info about South Walton, Florida.

All About SoWal

Advertise or find a business, discuss business.

Business & Services

Jobs

Festivals, classes, gatherings, activities.

Events & Music

Food & Dining

Marketplace

property, realtors, builders, development, infrastructure ...

Real Estate

For Sale

Wanted

Other

Commercial

Long Term Rentals

Vacation Rentals

SoWal Lounge

Sandcastle

Beach Fanatic

Miss Critter

30ashopper

SoWal Insider

The top ten results seem to show just how little people really understand about the economy. China at 9, OPEC at at 6, and the NAR at 7? I guess it just goes to show people are looking for scape goats they can nail down even though none of these had much to do with the problem.

Little Fish

Beach Lover

Not sure who killed the economy, but I will say that a new President who believes in big government and redistribution of wealth can't help matters.
 
Little Fish

Not sure who killed the economy, but I will say that a new President who believes in big government and redistribution of wealth can&#039;t help matters. 
 
Little Fish

AAbsolute

Banned

The first 150 years of American history shows that we rarely ran deficits.  When we did they were for important reasons that were fruitful for our country.  The last time America experienced a surplus was in 1969 under Nixon.  Since that time little by little we have grown accustomed to running deficits.  Since I was in grade school I never understood running a deficit and not repaying it.  We are now officially bankrupt as a nation.  America will never repay the debt.  We are slowly bringing most important financial institutions under the umbrella of the Federal government, setting up the world for an enormous default of the national debt obligation.  It shouldn't be long now before the official announcement.
 
That said, we'll run a deficit again this year.
 
Increase of National Debt Since 1980 Month Amount
--------------------------------------------
12/31/1980 $930,210,000,000.00 *
12/31/1981 $1,028,729,000,000.00 *
12/31/1982 $1,197,073,000,000.00 *
12/31/1983 $1,410,702,000,000.00 *
12/31/1984 $1,662,966,000,000.00 *
12/31/1985 $1,945,941,616,459.88
12/31/1986 $2,214,834,532,586.43
12/31/1987 $2,431,715,264,976.86
12/30/1988 $2,684,391,916,571.41
12/29/1989 $2,952,994,244,624.71
12/31/1990 $3,364,820,230,276.86
12/31/1991 $3,801,698,272,862.02
12/31/1992 $4,177,009,244,468.77
12/31/1993 $4,535,687,054,406.14
12/30/1994 $4,800,149,946,143.75
10/31/1995 $4,985,262,110,021.06
11/30/1995 $4,989,329,926,644.31
12/29/1995 $4,988,664,979,014.54
01/31/1996 $4,987,436,358,165.20
02/29/1996 $5,017,040,703,255.02
03/29/1996 $5,117,786,366,014.56
04/30/1996 $5,102,048,827,234.22
05/31/1996 $5,128,508,504,892.80
06/28/1996 $5,161,075,688,140.93
07/31/1996 $5,188,888,625,925.87 
08/30/1996 $5,208,303,439,417.93
09/30/1996 $5,224,810,939,135.73
10/01/1996 $5,234,730,786,626.50
10/02/1996 $5,235,509,457,452.56
10/03/1996 $5,222,192,137,251.62
10/04/1996 $5,222,049,625,819.53
* Rounded to Millions

The first 150 years of American history shows that we rarely ran deficits. When we did they were for important reasons that were fruitful for our country. The last time America experienced a surplus was in 1969 under Nixon. Since that time little by little we have grown accustomed to running deficits. Since I was in grade school I never understood running a deficit and not repaying it. We are now officially bankrupt as a nation. America will never repay the debt. We are slowly bringing most important financial institutions under the umbrella of the Federal government, setting up the world for an enormous default of the national debt obligation. It shouldn&#039;t be long now before the official announcement. 
 
That said, we&#039;ll run a deficit again this year. 
 
Increase of National Debt Since 1980 Month Amount 
-------------------------------------------- 
12/31/1980 $930,210,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1981 $1,028,729,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1982 $1,197,073,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1983 $1,410,702,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1984 $1,662,966,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1985 $1,945,941,616,459.88 
12/31/1986 $2,214,834,532,586.43 
12/31/1987 $2,431,715,264,976.86 
12/30/1988 $2,684,391,916,571.41 
12/29/1989 $2,952,994,244,624.71 
12/31/1990 $3,364,820,230,276.86 
12/31/1991 $3,801,698,272,862.02 
12/31/1992 $4,177,009,244,468.77 
12/31/1993 $4,535,687,054,406.14 
12/30/1994 $4,800,149,946,143.75 
10/31/1995 $4,985,262,110,021.06 
11/30/1995 $4,989,329,926,644.31 
12/29/1995 $4,988,664,979,014.54 
01/31/1996 $4,987,436,358,165.20 
02/29/1996 $5,017,040,703,255.02 
03/29/1996 $5,117,786,366,014.56 
04/30/1996 $5,102,048,827,234.22 
05/31/1996 $5,128,508,504,892.80 
06/28/1996 $5,161,075,688,140.93 
07/31/1996 $5,188,888,625,925.87 
08/30/1996 $5,208,303,439,417.93 
09/30/1996 $5,224,810,939,135.73 
10/01/1996 $5,234,730,786,626.50 
10/02/1996 $5,235,509,457,452.56 
10/03/1996 $5,222,192,137,251.62 
10/04/1996 $5,222,049,625,819.53 
* Rounded to Millions

Miss Kitty

Meow

[quote="AAbsolute, post: 491306"]The first 150 years of American history shows that we rarely ran deficits. When we did they were for important reasons that were fruitful for our country. The last time America experienced a surplus was in 1969 under Nixon. Since that time little by little we have grown accustomed to running deficits. Since I was in grade school I never understood running a deficit and not repaying it. We are now officially bankrupt as a nation. America will never repay the debt. We are slowly bringing most important financial institutions under the umbrella of the Federal government, setting up the world for an enormous default of the national debt obligation. It shouldn't be long now before the official announcement.
 
That said, we'll run a deficit again this year.
 
Increase of National Debt Since 1980 Month Amount
--------------------------------------------
12/31/1980 $930,210,000,000.00 *
12/31/1981 $1,028,729,000,000.00 *
12/31/1982 $1,197,073,000,000.00 *
12/31/1983 $1,410,702,000,000.00 *
12/31/1984 $1,662,966,000,000.00 *
12/31/1985 $1,945,941,616,459.88
12/31/1986 $2,214,834,532,586.43
12/31/1987 $2,431,715,264,976.86
12/30/1988 $2,684,391,916,571.41
12/29/1989 $2,952,994,244,624.71
12/31/1990 $3,364,820,230,276.86
12/31/1991 $3,801,698,272,862.02
12/31/1992 $4,177,009,244,468.77
12/31/1993 $4,535,687,054,406.14
12/30/1994 $4,800,149,946,143.75
10/31/1995 $4,985,262,110,021.06
11/30/1995 $4,989,329,926,644.31
12/29/1995 $4,988,664,979,014.54
01/31/1996 $4,987,436,358,165.20
02/29/1996 $5,017,040,703,255.02
03/29/1996 $5,117,786,366,014.56
04/30/1996 $5,102,048,827,234.22
05/31/1996 $5,128,508,504,892.80
06/28/1996 $5,161,075,688,140.93
07/31/1996 $5,188,888,625,925.87 
08/30/1996 $5,208,303,439,417.93
09/30/1996 $5,224,810,939,135.73
10/01/1996 $5,234,730,786,626.50
10/02/1996 $5,235,509,457,452.56
10/03/1996 $5,222,192,137,251.62
10/04/1996 $5,222,049,625,819.53
* Rounded to Millions[/quote]
 
Looks like our new tax bill. :biggrin: Don't worry 40%...we've got your back. Make that 50% after the election.
 
This probably didn't come off the way I intended, but I will leave it.  I am concerned about the tax credit that Mr. Obama proposes v. the credit McCain proposes goes towards health insurance.  Seems both candidates are wanting to help those citizens that are being crunched.  Does it not make sense to use the "tax credit" for health care?

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="AAbsolute">The first 150 years of American history shows that we rarely ran deficits. When we did they were for important reasons that were fruitful for our country. The last time America experienced a surplus was in 1969 under Nixon. Since that time little by little we have grown accustomed to running deficits. Since I was in grade school I never understood running a deficit and not repaying it. We are now officially bankrupt as a nation. America will never repay the debt. We are slowly bringing most important financial institutions under the umbrella of the Federal government, setting up the world for an enormous default of the national debt obligation. It shouldn&#039;t be long now before the official announcement. 
 
That said, we&#039;ll run a deficit again this year. 
 
Increase of National Debt Since 1980 Month Amount 
-------------------------------------------- 
12/31/1980 $930,210,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1981 $1,028,729,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1982 $1,197,073,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1983 $1,410,702,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1984 $1,662,966,000,000.00 * 
12/31/1985 $1,945,941,616,459.88 
12/31/1986 $2,214,834,532,586.43 
12/31/1987 $2,431,715,264,976.86 
12/30/1988 $2,684,391,916,571.41 
12/29/1989 $2,952,994,244,624.71 
12/31/1990 $3,364,820,230,276.86 
12/31/1991 $3,801,698,272,862.02 
12/31/1992 $4,177,009,244,468.77 
12/31/1993 $4,535,687,054,406.14 
12/30/1994 $4,800,149,946,143.75 
10/31/1995 $4,985,262,110,021.06 
11/30/1995 $4,989,329,926,644.31 
12/29/1995 $4,988,664,979,014.54 
01/31/1996 $4,987,436,358,165.20 
02/29/1996 $5,017,040,703,255.02 
03/29/1996 $5,117,786,366,014.56 
04/30/1996 $5,102,048,827,234.22 
05/31/1996 $5,128,508,504,892.80 
06/28/1996 $5,161,075,688,140.93 
07/31/1996 $5,188,888,625,925.87 
08/30/1996 $5,208,303,439,417.93 
09/30/1996 $5,224,810,939,135.73 
10/01/1996 $5,234,730,786,626.50 
10/02/1996 $5,235,509,457,452.56 
10/03/1996 $5,222,192,137,251.62 
10/04/1996 $5,222,049,625,819.53 
* Rounded to Millions</blockquote> 
Looks like our new tax bill. 😀 Don&#039;t worry 40%...we&#039;ve got your back. Make that 50% after the election. 
 
This probably didn&#039;t come off the way I intended, but I will leave it. I am concerned about the tax credit that Mr. Obama proposes v. the credit McCain proposes goes towards health insurance. Seems both candidates are wanting to help those citizens that are being crunched. Does it not make sense to use the &quot;tax credit&quot; for health care?

[quote="Bob, post: 491350"]so we get a little payback on china![/quote]
 
That's the way I figure it.  Have you noticed all the consolidation occuring and taking under the umbrella of the Fed's?  Our foreign creditors are about to feel federal eminent domain. 
 
There is however the slim chance that we will have to give all our federal lands ( Federal parks, etc. ) to settle the debt.  Or maybe start a potential war to to make for a more conducive settlement environment.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Bob">so we get a little payback on china!</blockquote> 
That&#039;s the way I figure it. Have you noticed all the consolidation occuring and taking under the umbrella of the Fed&#039;s? Our foreign creditors are about to feel federal eminent domain. 
 
There is however the slim chance that we will have to give all our federal lands ( Federal parks, etc. ) to settle the debt. Or maybe start a potential war to to make for a more conducive settlement environment.

[quote="Miss Kitty, post: 491359"]Looks like our new tax bill. :biggrin: Don't worry 40%...we've got your back. Make that 50% after the election.
 
This probably didn't come off the way I intended, but I will leave it. I am concerned about the tax credit that Mr. Obama proposes v. the credit McCain proposes goes towards health insurance. Seems both candidates are wanting to help those citizens that are being crunched. [B]Does it not make sense to use the "tax credit" for health care?[/B][/quote]
 
Tax credits are ok as long as you cut spending someplace to pay for them. They are basically a form of decreased taxation targeted at modifying behavior. Personally I'm more for straight tax cuts, but politicians in Washington like to try and train us, similar to the way you train your dog to do tricks using treats.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Miss Kitty">Looks like our new tax bill. 😀 Don&#039;t worry 40%...we&#039;ve got your back. Make that 50% after the election. 
 
This probably didn&#039;t come off the way I intended, but I will leave it. I am concerned about the tax credit that Mr. Obama proposes v. the credit McCain proposes goes towards health insurance. Seems both candidates are wanting to help those citizens that are being crunched. Does it not make sense to use the &quot;tax credit&quot; for health care?</blockquote> 
Tax credits are ok as long as you cut spending someplace to pay for them. They are basically a form of decreased taxation targeted at modifying behavior. Personally I&#039;m more for straight tax cuts, but politicians in Washington like to try and train us, similar to the way you train your dog to do tricks using treats.

YoungFT

Fun little game - I picked Freddie and Fannie and was surprised that they came in at #5 overall.

Of interest to the SoWal board is the ability to pick Florida condo flippers or the National Association of Realtors.

[url]http://www.portfolio.com/interactive-features/2008/06/Who-Killed-The-Economy?TID=st092007ab[/url]

This is intended to be lighthearted - I hope the many fine realtors on the Board take no offense. 

Have fun!

Fun little game - I picked Freddie and Fannie and was surprised that they came in at #5 overall. 
 
Of interest to the SoWal board is the ability to pick Florida condo flippers or the National Association of Realtors. 
 
<a href="http://www.portfolio.com/interactive-features/2008/06/Who-Killed-The-Economy?TID=st092007ab" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">http://www.portfolio.com/interactive-features/2008/06/Who-Killed-The-Economy?TID=st092007ab</a> 
 
This is intended to be lighthearted - I hope the many fine realtors on the Board take no offense. 
 
Have fun!

Who Killed the Economy?

Grayton BeachCam

Dune Allen BeachCam

Seagrove Beach SkyCam

Inlet BeachCam

Miramar BeachCam Majestic Sun

Santa Rosa BeachCam

Walton County Fair

Sounds of Seaside

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton

International Coastal Cleanup Day Was A Success In South Walton

Merchants Of Alys Beach Announce New Dining & Shopping Options

No beachcams yet

More cams

Include enough context for a reply on the first pass: who you are, what this is about, and anything time-sensitive we should know.

Write a clear note and we will route it fast

SoWal Contact Form

What helps the SoWal team reply on the first pass

Use these links when your request already has a clear destination.

Prefer a direct route before you write?

Use this when you are not sure where your request belongs and need the SoWal team to route it.

Questions, corrections, and quick help

Share newsworthy updates, corrections, community tips, or photography that can improve SoWal coverage.

Story tips, local leads, and photos

Reach the team for business visibility, partnership planning, or other commercial opportunities.

Listings, sponsorships, and business requests

Use this path for media coordination, press follow-ups, or requests that need a communications contact.

Press outreach and interview requests

Tell us what you need and how to reach you.

Send your note here and the SoWal team will route it appropriately.

Choose the quickest route for your message

Forum account areas

Log in to view member profile, alerts, messages, watched content, bookmarks, preferences, and staff tools.

Member-only forum areas use your SoWal forum account.

Use your forum username or email to post, reply, follow threads, and manage your account.

Log in to the forum

Log in to the SoWal forum

Find people and visit their public forum profiles.

Members

Enter the six-digit code sent to {email}.

Check your email

Join the conversation

Welcome to SoWal

Sign in to SoWal

Signature preview

Ads support our local stories, BeachCams, and community guides. If you use an ad blocker, allow SoWal, then check again.

Help keep SoWal local

Your feedback helps us make SoWal better.

How was this story?

Get local stories, events, and South Walton highlights in your inbox.

Stay close to the coast

Choose whether SoWal may use optional cookies. Necessary cookies keep the site working.

Your privacy, your choice

Site navigation

Submenu

Bite-sized stories, curated itineraries, and community events delivered to your inbox on the regular.

Who Killed the Economy?

Latest conversations

Write a reply

Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

Annual Events and Festivals in South Walton