A $4.4 Trillion Mirage That Deserves a Mercy Killing

Let’s talk about the latest budget resolution from the House Republicans—a document so steeped in fiscal fantasy that it might as well be shelved in the fiction section. According to David Stockman, former Reagan budget director and a relentless critic of Washington’s spending addiction, this resolution isn’t just flawed; it’s a deliberate smokescreen hiding a staggering $4.4 trillion deficit over the next decade. In his February 20, 2025, piece on LewRockwell.com, Stockman argues that this budget isn’t a serious attempt at fiscal responsibility—it’s a political prop that deserves to be put out of its misery.

The Big Lie: Balanced Budgets Without the Pain

The House GOP is touting this resolution as a path to a balanced budget by 2035. Sounds noble, right? Except, as Stockman dissects it, the numbers don’t add up—literally. The resolution projects $82 trillion in total federal outlays over the next ten years, against $77.6 trillion in revenues. That’s a $4.4 trillion shortfall, folks. For those keeping score at home, that’s not a balanced budget; it’s a deficit dressed up in optimistic rhetoric.

How do they pull off this sleight of hand? By banking on rosy economic growth projections and conveniently ignoring the structural rot in federal spending. Stockman points out that the GOP’s plan assumes annual GDP growth rates that would make even the most bullish Wall Street analyst blush—sustained increases that history suggests are more pipe dream than policy. Meanwhile, the resolution leaves entitlements like Social Security and Medicare largely untouched, despite their ballooning costs driving much of the long-term fiscal crisis.

Defense Spending: The Sacred Cow Still Grazing

If you thought the GOP might take a hard look at the Pentagon’s bloated budget, think again. Stockman calls out the resolution for preserving defense spending at levels that would make a Cold War general proud—roughly $10 trillion over the decade. This isn’t about national security, he argues; it’s about protecting a military-industrial complex that’s become a jobs program with tanks. In a world where asymmetric threats like cyberattacks and terrorism dominate, why are we still funding a war machine built for 20th-century battles? The resolution doesn’t answer that—it just keeps writing the checks.

The Entitlement Elephant in the Room

Then there’s the real kicker: entitlements. Stockman notes that the budget resolution skirts any meaningful reform to Social Security and Medicare, which together account for a massive chunk of the $82 trillion in projected outlays. These programs are on autopilot, growing faster than the economy can keep up, yet the GOP’s “bold” plan is to kick the can down the road. Why? Because touching entitlements is political kryptonite, and this resolution is more about winning votes than fixing problems.

Stockman’s critique here is scathing: the GOP knows the math doesn’t work, but they’d rather sell a feel-good narrative than face the music. The result? A budget that pretends to be fiscally conservative while quietly baking in trillions in red ink.

A $4.4 Trillion Fraud—and No One’s Blinking

The real outrage, Stockman argues, is the deficit itself: $4.4 trillion over ten years, even with all the GOP’s optimistic assumptions. That’s not a rounding error; it’s a structural failure. And it’s not like this is new—the federal government’s been running deficits for decades, piling up a national debt that’s now north of $35 trillion. Yet here we are, with a Republican Party that once preached fiscal discipline now peddling a budget that hides the truth in plain sight.

Stockman’s solution? A “mercy killing.” Scrap this sham resolution and start over with something honest—something that doesn’t rely on magical growth fairy tales or sacred cows. Cut defense spending to match actual threats. Reform entitlements to reflect demographic realities. Stop pretending revenues will soar without tax hikes or economic miracles. It’s a tall order, sure, but it beats papering over a $4.4 trillion hole.

Why This Matters Now

As of February 20, 2025, we’re at a crossroads. The economy’s humming along for some, but beneath the surface, the debt clock keeps ticking. Stockman’s piece is a wake-up call: if even the “fiscally responsible” party can’t muster a credible budget, what hope is there for reining in Washington’s spending spree? The House GOP’s resolution isn’t just a missed opportunity—it’s a fraud on the American taxpayer, and it’s time we stopped buying the hype.