Crosses Quote by Stephen Harper
“I know economists will say well, we could run a small deficit but the problem is that once you cross that line as we see in the United States, nothing stops deficits from getting larger and larger and spiralling out of control.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Economic policy address, 2022
Warns that once a deficit surpasses a critical threshold, fiscal discipline erodes, leading to uncontrolled debt growth.
In simple terms: Deficits can spiral if not checked.
Implement fiscal rules to limit deficits.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- budget planning
- legislative budgeting
- tax policy
- public debt management
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can enforce fiscal discipline?
- How to balance social needs with debt limits?
Political pressures may prioritize short‑term spending over long‑term stability.