The Top 5 Reasons Why No Matter Who The Next President Is, Things Will Still Suck

We've been hearing about the upcoming Presidential election since, well, the last one ended, and a lot has been said about the impact the new Commander-In-Chief will have on the rest of us. Well here's the first installment of the Top 5 reasons that no matter who comes out on top, your life is probably still going to blow.

5) THE NATIONAL DEBT

Visit the U.S. National Debt Clock

If you clicked on that link, then you saw that outrageously huge dollar amount. An amount typically reserved for...well, nothing except the National Debt. Why does it suck? Well that's a complicated answer, so allow me to dangerously simplify the issue.

Currently our debt isn't that big of a deal, in fact many countries have a significant amount of debt. Go ahead...google it. Generally though, the problem is that debt costs you money. Remember your credit card bill? There you go. The idea is we're paying interest on our money, which means we have to pay more money, which is why you should have actually been going to class in college and not what you were doing.

(What you were doing)

So the question is, how will our upcoming presidential choice impact the situation? Here's the breakdown.

Democrats spend money, Republicans don't. This logic has remained a universal law since time began and is as safe a bet in life as death, taxes, and the awkward stage right around 7th grade. But over the last 8 years of a Republican administration the national debt has increased by over 4 trillion dollars. Yeah, did you get that? The party that seeks to cut government spending nearly doubled our national debt in eight years. What news could possibly make this worse? Well when asked how he planned to balance the budget in office, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain cited the policies of the actor turned politcian Ronald Reagan.

(Ronald Reagan today)

What he doesn't mention is that the deficit actually tripled during the Reagan presidency.

I should mention that while the deficit (spending>income) increased during the Reagan years, our Gross National Product also increased, thereby sort of making that okay. Its like you went on a shopping spree at Best Buy and bought every season of The Simpsons, Law and Order, and Friends ever made, but at the same time started selling your body on the street, adding a new (let's hope high) income to your wallet. Just imagine those DVDs are nuclear submarines and American flags.

On the other side of the ticket, Barack Obama's plan for increased spending on infrastructure and social programs will no doubt cost the federal government more money than Congress typically spends on hookers, and that's no small feat. But Obama hasn't been bashful about raising taxes to pay for his plan, chances are though if you're reading this blog, your taxes will be just fine. You don't pay property taxes on your parents' basement. Its worth noting however that studies of each candidates budget proposals should add anywhere from $3-$4.5 trillion to the national debt, a troubling thought when our economy seems perilously close to recession.

So you're in debt, big deal. We're just getting warmed up. For more of a reminder of why your life is going to continually suck, be sure to read the next installment.