In 2007 the federal government spent $2.7 trillion, and ran a deficit of $160 billion. In 2008, the federal government spent $2.98 trillion, and ran a deficit of $458 billion. Then in 2009, the government spent $3.99 trillion, with a deficit of $1.8 trillion! But, of course, that was because of the stimulus being added in, right? A one-time thing? 2010 - $3.5 trillion / $1.25 trillion 2011 - $3.6 trillion / $929 billion 2012 - $3.6 trillion / $557 billion And projections show $500 billion deficits to continue for the foreseeable future. How did this become the new normal?!?