Too many people perceive the act of balancing a budget for a country they way one might for a household. They are different animals.

The problem with any deficit is one closely linked to the money one has in the 'bank'. Deficits mean interest payments to someone that ain't you. However, terms like surplus and deficit have no real meaning because governments are not supposed to be money-making institutions. And governments are not supposed to be banks. The problem that's happened over the years is that corporations have been in bed with members of government, influenced votes, changed laws, and now neither have reputations worth a damn.