WASHINGTON, DC
It's never been like this before.
After nearly nine straight years of economic good times, the Clinton administration gave credit on Monday to the American people's willingness to shoulder mountains of personal debt for the good of the economy.
As evidence, White House spokesperson Joe Lockhart cited U.S. Department of Commerce figures showing the average American is saving around 2 percent of his or her income, down from 9 percent in 1982.
In recent months, national personal spending averages have at times eclipsed income.
And it's paying off.
Lockhart pointed to current military action in Kosovo noting that "[thanks to the budget surplus] we can pretty much afford to bomb the hell out of anyone we damn well want to."
Continued Lockhart: "Being able to afford a war without requiring any sort of domestic belt-tightening is a tangible benefit of the longest running economic boom since the 1950s. We are literally able to have our cake and drop it out of a B1 bomber, too."
"The thanks for all of this goes right to the ordinary American man and woman who have bravely continued to spend freely for the last eight years with heroic disregard for personal financial solvency."
Average Americans seem encouraged by their role in fueling the country's growth.
Speaking with a crowd in line for "The Matrix" at the Cineplex Mulitplex in McLean, VA, many people used words like "terrific" and "sounds good" regarding the federal government's announcement that prolific spending is buoying their ability to wage war in Yugoslavia.
Self-employed bartender Jamie Barnett was leaving Circuit City with a cartful of "gadgets and whatnot, this one makes soup" when he paused to express a comment echoed by many other shoppers, saying, "This is the best thing my tax dollars have bought me since the Persian Gulf."
"And I love that Lee Greenwood song "Proud To Be An American." I hope they bring that back after we win," added Barnett.
Agreement was far from unanimous. Cynthia Platt, a retired anesthesiologist and avid collector of "anything made out of plastic," disputed Barnett's opinion, feeling that a remake of Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" would be more tasteful.
News Note:
American's believe in getting their money's worth on their investment.
In a joint ABC News/Treading Water poll 76% of respondents said they were only in favor of the War in Yugoslavia "as long as we win" while 34% percent expressed a desire that coverage not pre-empt "ER" or "Felicity" and only "Dawson's Creek" if for a "really, really good reason."
Twelve percent contemplated shaving intricate designs into their body hair while coating their thighs with strawberry preserves.
