-- s crmple hpiro. >> this is an economic club, so i want to ask a tougher question, if i may. rising deficit, it is phenomenal, and the ambitious goal is half this phenomenal record, rising protectionism, proposing increases on taxes for those that create jobs. how is this justifiable in the long-term economically for the overall health of the country? i feel like we are fiddling and rome is burning. >> first of all, you describe cutting the budget deficit in half as an ambitious goal. first of all, let's not lose sight of the fact we inherited a budget deficit that was $1.3 trillion. the president said he wants to cut it in half before the end of his first term. but the first thing he wanted to do was call a -- he felt consulting it in half wasn't enough. i couldn't agree with you more. i think the president couldn't agree with you more. it is a problem, and something we have to deal with. i think if you are really concerned about the deficit, i would bring it back to health care reform. you look at any study by the congressional budget office, those long-term budget projecti