Regarding the letter “Good news was buried” (Oct. 22) by Susan Stephenson.

Apparently the writer is confusing the terms “deficit” and “debt”.

The deficit is the amount borrowed annually to make up for the money we have versus the money we spend in the budget. This year’s budget deficit is $483 billion and it has been reduced the last couple of years, due in part to the sequester that was passed in 2012.

The national debt is the money that we owe other countries and banking institutions.

Candidate Barack Obama called George W. Bush “unamerican” because the national debt in 2008 was $8 trillion. The national debt right now is more than $17 trillion.

Where is the good news in that?