From the standpoint of the relationship between commitments and GDP the U. S. is in much better shape than the UK, France, or Germany.

According to the CIA factbook public debt as a percentage of GDP is as follows: US 64.7%, UK 42.2%, France 64.7%, and Germany 66.8%. Where are you getting your information?

Since the beginning of time old ladies have been complaining about declining moral standards and that strawberries were sweeter when they were girls.

Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.
Socrates

Since the beginning of time old ladies have been complaining about declining moral standards and that strawberries were sweeter when they were girls.

hat doesn't prevent him from expressing an opinion on these matters

It should, especially in official GAO reports. He's supposed to be a green eyeshade analyst, not a guy with opinions.

And I don't necessarily disagree with him on the merits on any of it, aside from the Roman Empire bit. It's just not his place.

hat doesn't prevent him from expressing an opinion on these matters

It should, especially in official GAO reports. He's supposed to be a green eyeshade analyst, not a guy with opinions.

And I don't necessarily agree with him on the merits on any of it. It's just not his place.

It’s simply not his place to lecture the country or its policy-makers on morality, thrift, foreign policy, or immigration.

James, you're beginning to sound like the liberal elite! It may not be his job function (as opposed to "place") but that doesn't prevent him from expressing an opinion on these matters. Then again, I might be a bit more tolerant because I agree with him, albeit for different reasons.