http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?year=1991_2012&view=1&expand=&units=p&fy=fy12&chart=G0-fed&bar=0&stack=1&size=l&title=&state=US&color=c&local=s

GDP= Gross Domestic Product
(January 20 start and end)
89-93 Bush
93-01 Clinton
01-09 G.W.Bush
09-Incumbent Obama
 
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-23/politics/health.care.timeline_1_prescription-drug-plan-health-care-doughnut-hole?_s=PMOLITICS

http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-23/politics/health.care.timeline_1_prescription-drug-plan-health-care-doughnut-hole?_s=PM:*POLITICS

^remove the * to see the link without a smily face.

“• Insurers will be barred from imposing exclusions on children with pre-existing conditions. Pools will cover those with pre-existing health conditions until health care coverage exchanges are operational.
• Insurers will not be able to rescind policies to avoid paying medical bills when a person becomes ill.
• Lifetime limits on benefits and restrictive annual limits will be prohibited.
• New plans must provide coverage for preventive services without co-pays. All plans must comply by 2018.
• A temporary reinsurance program will help offset costs of coverage for companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55 to 64.
• New plans will be required to implement an appeals process for coverage determinations and claims.
• Adoption tax credit and assistance exclusion will increase by $1,000. The bill makes the credit refundable and extends it through 2011.
• A 10 percent tax will be imposed on amounts paid for indoor tanning services on or after July 1.
• Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering 35 percent of their health care premiums, increasing to 50 percent by 2014.
2011
• Medicare will provide free annual wellness visits and personalized prevention plans. New plans will be required to cover preventive services with no co-pay.
• States can offer home- and community-based services to the disabled through Medicaid rather than institutional care beginning October 1.
• A 50 percent discount will be provided on brand-name drugs for Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage enrollees. Additional discounts on brand-name and generic drugs will be phased in to completely close the "doughnut hole" by 2020.”

There's a lot of theory crafting about healthcare and how to reduce the federal deficit.  Starting with what we know:
Military and large business investments have not recently worked.  When healthcare became effective the deficit began to decrease.  The chart shows the USA's federal deficit does not match trends of education or healthcare spending.
So, investing in programs that help American citizens also helps the economy and giving more finical power to the few who already have it does not.  Healthcare supports the USA economy, why is this a big deal?  It also helps 47 million Americans be healthy.  Education will 'sharpen the saw' and make the USA not be in 21st place behind countries like Russia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_literacy_rate

(Wikipedia, I'm lazy but you get my point)

The boards are too inactive, we need controversial threads to jump-start them.  Discuss.