"Rogoff is an American economist -- not really on point, is it."

You were the one who introduced the role of the American Economy into the conversation. He was also economist to the IMF, much like El Erian (just as personable). There used to be this concept that if the US sneezed, we all caught colds - fortunately China has changed some of that.

" in response to a two year cyle as prudent" There are many progressives on these boards - Chris from Ottawa is an obvious example - who will paint Harper as being cruel and vindictive because he ONLY ran 8 years of deficits. My personal view is that he should only have run 6, but Canadians LOVE their deficits. 

You can't compare nominal dollars deficits because of inflation (and real GDP growth); that's not me, that's Maths.

He was right to run deficits (JT isn't); that's not me, that's Keynes - how long he should have run deficits is politics.