--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone…" description: "\"Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.\" — Barack Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg" --- # Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic… ![“Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg) > “Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Deficit reduction alone cannot constitute a comprehensive economic strategy; broader policies are needed. **In simple terms:** Deficit cuts aren't a full plan. Key Takeaway Combine cuts with growth policies. Themes economics policy governance Mood analytical serious Type political economic When to use this quote - budget planning - legislative reform - public investment Key Concepts fiscal responsibility macroeconomic theory Questions to Reflect On - What other economic tools are essential? - How can we balance debt reduction with growth? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on cuts can harm social programs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clear Deficit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-deficit-5833991/) [Deficit reduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit-reduction/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-plan-1256887/) [Reduction Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduction-economic-5833992/) ## Related quotes > [Now, we all know that we've got to do more. And so I've put forward a specific $4 trillion deficit reduction plan. It's on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/now-we-all-know-that-we-ve-got-to-do-more-and-so-i-ve-put-forward-a/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ He \[Barack Obama\] talked about deficit reduction. This got me he was talking about how the deficit's being reduced faster in the last 60… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/he-barack-obama-talked-about-deficit-reduction-this-got-me-he-was/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [President Trump's economic plan which centers on tax cuts and deregulation has breathed new life into the American economy, fostering an incredibly business-friendly environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lara-trump/president-trump-s-economic-plan-which-centers-on-tax-cuts-and/) [Lara Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lara-trump/) > [The president's economic plan doesn't do enough to create new jobs and that has to be a national priority. While there are some signs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-rockefeller/the-president-s-economic-plan-doesn-t-do-enough-to-create-new-jobs/) [Jay Rockefeller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-rockefeller/) > [There is no option but to transform our world to a zero carbon future. We will fight to ensure that no one is left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharan-burrow/there-is-no-option-but-to-transform-our-world-to-a-zero-carbon-future/) [Sharan Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharan-burrow/) > [In retrospect, 'Bidenomics' was a sad, simple and cynical economic plan: spend, spend, spend while opening up the U.S. southern border to unlimited immigration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bessent/in-retrospect-bidenomics-was-a-sad-simple-and-cynical-economic-plan/) [Scott Bessent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bessent/) > [Page one of any economic plan to get America working is to give a pink slip to the current resident in the White House.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-perry/page-one-of-any-economic-plan-to-get-america-working-is-to-give-a/) [Rick Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-perry/) > [In 1993, as House Democratic Leader, I led the fight to pass the Clinton-Gore economic plan - a plan designed to slash the deficit,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/in-1993-as-house-democratic-leader-i-led-the-fight-to-pass-the/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [As the Wall Street Journal called our economic plan, supply-side economics for the working man, is resonating in Minnesota and here in Missouri and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/as-the-wall-street-journal-called-our-economic-plan-supply-side/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [“Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/look-john-s-last-minute-economic-plan-does-nothing-to-tackle-the/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [When I introduced my economic plan for the first time, people had mixed views because it's the largest cut in the history of Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yair-lapid/when-i-introduced-my-economic-plan-for-the-first-time-people-had/) [Yair Lapid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yair-lapid/) > [Hillary Clinton's economic plan is the biggest sitting duck to be blown to smithereens, you could do it in two sentences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/hillary-clinton-s-economic-plan-is-the-biggest-sitting-duck-to-be/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I think it is absolutely central to our economic plan as a country not only that we put our own house in order but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-osborne/i-think-it-is-absolutely-central-to-our-economic-plan-as-a-country/) [George Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-osborne/) > [We ought to deal with Social Security in a separate conversation that is not part of deficit reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-ought-to-deal-with-social-security-in-a-separate-conversation-that/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/when-you-re-talking-about-long-term-deficit-reduction-4-trillion/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Deficit reduction quotes > [When you're talking about long-term deficit reduction, $4 trillion worth, entitlement reform needs to be part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/when-you-re-talking-about-long-term-deficit-reduction-4-trillion/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [We ought to deal with Social Security in a separate conversation that is not part of deficit reduction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/we-ought-to-deal-with-social-security-in-a-separate-conversation-that/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [I think it's very important not to confuse the importance of dealing with Social Security in the long term with these short-term deficit reduction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-it-s-very-important-not-to-confuse-the-importance-of-dealing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't know how anyone can keep a straight face and say they are for deficit reduction while they insist on a permanent tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-don-t-know-how-anyone-can-keep-a-straight-face-and-say-they-are-for/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [In point of fact, 'Simpson-Bowles' has become a symbol, or SimBowl, rather than an actual plan, political shorthand for the process of long-term deficit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/in-point-of-fact-simpson-bowles-has-become-a-symbol-or-simbowl-rather/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [Barack Obama came into office in the midst of an economic crisis and yet, shortly into his first term, Republicans suddenly rediscovered the urgent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neera-tanden/barack-obama-came-into-office-in-the-midst-of-an-economic-crisis-and/) [Neera Tanden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neera-tanden/) > [The poor have been sent to the front lines of a federal budget deficit reduction war that few other groups were drafted to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-wright-edelman/the-poor-have-been-sent-to-the-front-lines-of-a-federal-budget/) [Marian Wright Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-wright-edelman/) > [Deficit reduction is not an end in itself. It is the means to an end. Canadians must now decide what kind of country they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/deficit-reduction-is-not-an-end-in-itself-it-is-the-means-to-an-end/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [Thanks to former President George W. Bush - remember the compassionate conservative? - I have a good name for the fundamental principle that should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-romer/thanks-to-former-president-george-w-bush-remember-the-compassionate/) [Christina Romer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-romer/) > [Reconciliation cannot be used to pass comprehensive health care reform. It won't work because it was never designed for that kind of significant legislation;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-conrad/reconciliation-cannot-be-used-to-pass-comprehensive-health-care/) [Kent Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-conrad/) > [ He \[Barack Obama\] talked about deficit reduction. This got me he was talking about how the deficit's being reduced faster in the last 60… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/he-barack-obama-talked-about-deficit-reduction-this-got-me-he-was/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Mr. Obama's choices show how fundamentally unserious he is about deficit reduction and spending restraint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-crowley/mr-obama-s-choices-show-how-fundamentally-unserious-he-is-about/) [Monica Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-crowley/) > [The best time to make deficit reduction a priority is when the inflation rate and the bond market give you some indication that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/the-best-time-to-make-deficit-reduction-a-priority-is-when-the/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Tax rates for the wealthy should revert to Clinton-era levels, both because it is necessary for long-term deficit reduction and because fairness dictates it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-spitzer/tax-rates-for-the-wealthy-should-revert-to-clinton-era-levels-both/) [Eliot Spitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-spitzer/) > [The Farm Bill is one of the only bills that provides substantial deficit reduction that passed the Senate this year. It only makes sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/the-farm-bill-is-one-of-the-only-bills-that-provides-substantial/) [Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/) [Browse all 38 Deficit reduction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit-reduction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-is-not-an-economic-plan/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deficit reduction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-is-not-an-economic-plan/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f97/barack-obama-17_deficit-reduction_let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-i_2369984.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.” — Barack Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Barack Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Let's be clear: deficit reduction alone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-is-not-an-economic-plan/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-be-clear-deficit-reduction-alone-is-not-an-economic-plan/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```