How many do not realize that you cannot compare the handling of an individuals finances with that of a nation?

I keep seeing questions/rants stating that spending by the Government to stimulate the economy is the same as a family spending more to get out of debt. Do they realize how moronic that is, those 2 things fit like a square peg in a round hole. Stimulus spending by a nation puts money into the economy on a large scale, which in turn jolts businesses and saves or creates jobs, this in turn brings more tax payers to the table. Comparing this to a single families income and spending power is at best disingenuous and at worst retarded. As usual I got the 1st wave of thoughtless insults disguised as answers from the Repubs in the 1st 5-6 minutes. These I always disregard. The next wave will include moderate,respectful Republicans and Democrats. The last wave is usually those that are on my contacts and got the question later.

Public Comments

1. "Stimulus spending by a nation puts money into the economy on a large scale, which in turn jolts businesses and saves or creates jobs, this in turn brings more tax payers to the table." Historically, this approach has always failed.
2. If you think that doesn't make sense then you don't understand how the Fed works and how government finances much of what they do today.
3. Stimulus spending has never worked. Look at Japan's attempts where they went to 170% of GDP - nothing. Look at Europe's attempts, prior US attempts - it doesn't work.
4. No duh. If I handled my finances like the government does I'd be in jail. Why can't the government operate on the moneys they collect. It doesn't matter how much they collect they always spend more.
5. 13 dollars a week extra!!!!! and after two years it goes down to 10 dollars...yeah, that will really help..get a life. your anology is at best, retarded.
6. You can compare that on a smaller scale as it all leads to the same ending if you screw up. Broke , dependent and crying the blues and most of all pointing fingers at everyone except yourself
7. They have a good point in booming times, but one that isn't so valid in worse times. Sure they shouldn't have spent us into such a mess in the first place--spending more than what the country brings in in tax money is nothing new. I do agree that at this point we need a jolt, and I think that most who watch economics would foresee nothing but a shrinking economy without the stimulus. I guess the big argument is on whether a recession would be good for us in the long run, or if we should do whatever it takes to lessen the effects of a recession.
8. I know at least one person
9. I agree. Soverign debt should not be compared too closely to personal debt. It is a false analogy. The big difference is that soverign nations can print money. Obviously, they can do too much of this, but, in reasonable amounts, the national debt is stimulative to the economy. You can quickly tell when it is getting out of hand, because the obligations of the Treasury sink in value (interest rate goes up). This is not currrently happening to US Treasuries.
10. Sure you can. Economic principles apply equally across the board. In fact that's how many people get and stay rich. They follow sound financial strategies. The only difference is that the government doesn't exist to make a profit. If they make money then they owe the taxpayers refund money. Aside from that, the government should be run much like a business. Budgets need to be kept and budget decisions need to be made with a long term view into the future.
11. "Economic principles apply equally across the board. In fact that's how many people get and stay rich. They follow sound financial strategies." Sure they do. These are the same people that give money to the Madoffs and Stanfords of the world. Then they sit around and cry about how someone swindled money from them and how the government needs to help them out (IRS, right?). Then there's the other group of fat cats that lost billions on Wall Street, got the government to pump money into their funds and called it "necessary" help to keep the economy from failing because they are "too big to fail." Yet, the same morons call it socialism if there is any help proposed for unemployment, housing, or anything else to help those who aren't in the circle. That's why I don't feel bad at all for those rich b**ches that are selling their $1000 handbags and $800 pairs of shoes at the consignment store for pennies on the dollar. I don't feel sorry for the former executive that's having to eat at McDonald's off of the value menu instead of at the Ritz-Carlton. And, I especially don't feel sorry for the 'Joe the Plumbers' out there who now can't even afford to shop at Wal-Mart after the past eight years of bulls**t economics from the Republicans. In fact, when I hear them on the news wailing like babies, I laugh my butt off and say, "Welcome to the real world!"
12. Lol....The answer to your question is millions do not realize you cannot compare the two...and even upon learning that they should not do so...they will continue to anyway.... Your additional details were perfectly spot on.....