Skip to content

Cards Quote by Barack Obama

“The problem is that the way [President] Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion dollars for the first 42 presidents - number 43 added $4 trillion dollars by his…” quote by Barack Obama
Download Open image
“The problem is that the way [President] Bush has done it over the last eight years is to take out a credit card from the Bank of China in the name of our children, driving up our national debt from $5 trillion dollars for the first 42 presidents - number 43 added $4 trillion dollars by his lonesome - so that we now have over $9 trillion dollars of debt that we are going to have to pay back. [That's] $30,000 for every man, woman and child. That's irresponsible. It's unpatriotic.”

Barack Obama

About This Quote

Source Speech: State of the Union Address, 2009, USA

The quote criticizes the massive increase in national debt under President Bush, framing it as a burden on future generations and unpatriotic behavior.

In simple terms: Bush’s policies greatly increased debt, harming future citizens.

Key Takeaway

Demand fiscal responsibility and protect future generations.

Themes

economics politics responsibility intergenerational equity national debt

Mood

concerned critical urgent

Type

political economic warning

When to use this quote

  • Budget planning
  • policy debate
  • public advocacy
  • financial education
  • government accountability

Key Concepts

Fiscal policy public finance intergenerational justice

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we balance necessary spending with debt limits?
  • What policies can ensure fair debt distribution across generations?
A Different Perspective

The debt increase also reflects complex economic factors beyond a single president’s control.

2.5 out of 5 (4 ratings)

More by Barack Obama

Explore all 3,625 Barack Obama quotes

More Cards quotes

Browse all 2,004 Cards quotes