Should the federal government be as fiscally responsible as the average American household about spending more than it takes in? Supply Siders, Keynesians and at least one young debater speaking for a post-cash economy discussed, in a very civil manner, the meaning and weight of a federal deficit on the U.S. economy on Zoom Thursday night. 

In debate-speak, affirmatives are speakers who are in favor of the resolution and negatives are against it. For this resolution, affirmatives believe deficit spending is a major risk, while negatives believe it is not a big problem.

Braver Angels’ (braverangels.org) was founded in late 2016 to “bring Americans together to bridge the partisan divide and strengthen our democratic agenda.” Sounds more than a bit like the philosophy that drives The Hustings as a political news website. This post on the Braver Angels debate presents the opening arguments by the four scheduled debaters on the subject of federal deficit spending. 

Arguments by affirmatives for the resolution are in the right column. Arguments by negatives for the resolution are in the left column.

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What is your position on the resolution: “Deficit spending is a major risk to the U.S. economy”? Let us know at editors@thehustings.news.