Derek Thompson — The GOP Might Lose the Shutdown Battle, but It's Already Won the Spending War

Don't say Democrats aren't compromising. Their bill last night (rejected by the House GOP) would have funded government at Paul Ryan-levels.

The Atlantic Business
The GOP Might Lose the Shutdown Battle, but It's Already Won the Spending War
Derek Thompson | Senior Editor

Gov't spending collapsing!

From the Daily Treasury Statement, Total Withdrawals (this includes everything: SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, Interest on the debt...EVERYTHING!) now down $433 bln versus the same time last year. That's about 3-percent of GDP. In other words a SUBTRACTION of 3-percent from GDP. A lot of other things must be good to offset this. Personal Consumption, Business Investment and Net Exports all need to post strong gains to keep GDP positive!

*Chart covers period from Mar 2011 through Apr 9, 2012