Sequester Gibberish

President Obama wants Congress to put off the budget cuts required by sequestration for a short term period so that a long term deal can be reached.  Obama suggests that the sequestration cuts be replaced with a mix of other cuts and tax increases that will result in the same amount of deficit reduction.  In other words the effect would be to avoid $30 billion of sequestration cuts in exchange for $15 billion of new taxes and $15 billion of other budget cuts.  Supposedly, according to Obama, this would prevent damaging the economy.

I wonder if Obama actually believes what he said or if he realizes that it is false and it is just a political ploy.  Either way, it is frightening to witness this behavior from the president.  If Obama actually thinks that he is speaking the truth, then he does not understand even the simplest economics.  It makes no material difference for the economy if money is removed through lower government spending or increased taxes.  Obama's proposal, then, will not change the economic effect for the country.  Even if Obama does not understand this, his advisors must and they undoubtedly have told him.  Worse, if Obama knows that what he is saying is false, then he is just lying to America in an effort to shift the blame for a slowing economy to the Republicans.  I know that lying is Obama's standard operating procedure.  Nevertheless, it remains unforgivable.