G20 summit agrees on deficit cuts by 2013 (shock serious question)

[d000hg]

Correspondents note that every major G20 country had already committed to halve deficits within three years. (BBC)

Confused. Didn't the budget say that all they planned was to have the deficit no longer growing within 4-5 years? Must be different things, what's the difference?

[Moscow Mule]

Confused. Didn't the budget say that all they planned was to have the deficit no longer growing within 4-5 years? Must be different things, what's the difference?

There's the annual deficit and the total deficit.

They are interchangeable when politicians are giving promises.

[Drewster]

WHS
Politicians do not always use words that unequivocally and clearly convey the true and unmistakable sense of what they actually want you to think they mean nor of what they actually mean.

[centurian]

WHS
Politicians do not always use words that unequivocally and clearly convey the true and unmistakable sense of what they actually want you to think they mean nor of what they actually mean.

The word "deficit" almost always means the annual deficit. However, many politicians (mostly Labour) phrased it in such as way that many voters thought that they meant the total debt - and Labour were in no mood to correct their misunderstanding.

[Drewster]

The word "deficit" almost always means the annual deficit. However, many politicians (mostly Labour) phrased it in such as way that many voters thought that they meant the total debt - and Labour were in no mood to correct their misunderstanding.

I am sure you thought you understood what you think I said - but I don't think I said what you thought I meant..... Maybe!

[BlasterBates]

I think that Drewster has unequivocally hit the nail on the head, if you think you have understood what you think they mean, then you may have misunderstood what they actually do mean.

[DimPrawn]

WHS
Politicians do not always use words that unequivocally and clearly convey the true and unmistakable sense of what they actually want you to think they mean nor of what they actually mean.

Note, the above also applies to permie managers, the missus and CUK posters.

HTH