What I don't understand is the apparent lack of will of Republicans politicians to balance the budget. I can't recommend that financial irresponsibility to my daughter. I want her to learn to live within her means. But here is what has happened regarding deficit spending in the last quarter of century. sources: http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=338235 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3430565.stm http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/bizfocus/archives/2004/02/29/2003100621 http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR1387/MR1387.append.pdf ---- Reagan ---------------------------- 1981 - deficit $128 Billion 1982 - deficit $208 Billion 1983 - deficit $185 Billion 1984 - deficit $212 Billion ---- Reagan ---------------------------- 1985 - deficit $221 Billion 1986 - deficit $150 Billion 1987 - deficit $150 Billion 1988 - deficit $155 Billion (1.409 TRILLION total for Reagan's two terms) ---- H.W. Bush ---------------------------- 1989 - deficit $152 Billion 1990 - deficit $221 Billion 1991 - deficit $269 Billion 1992 - deficit $290 Billion (932 BILLION total for H.W.Bush) ---- Clinton ---------------------------- 1993 - deficit $255 Billion 1994 - deficit $203 Billion 1995 - deficit $164 Billion 1996 - deficit $108 Billion ---- Clinton ---------------------------- 1997 - deficit $22 Billion 1998 - SURPLUS $69 Billion 1999 - SURPLUS $124 Billion 2000 - SURPLUS $236 Billion (461 BILLION total for Clinton's two terms) ---- W. Bush ---------------------------- 2001 - SURPLUS $31 Billion 2002 - deficit $300 Billion 2003 - deficit $400 Billion 2004 - deficit $440 Billion ---- W. Bush ---------------------------- projected from Bush's press conference: 2005 - deficit $350 Billion 2006 - deficit $300 Billion 2007 - deficit $250 Billion 2008 - deficit $200 Billion (projected 2.209 TRILLION total for W.Bush's two terms) During Republican Presidency's we're tacked on 4.5 TRILLION to the national debt. 1.409 (Reagan) .932 (H.W.Bush) 2.209 (W.Bush) ------ 4.550 TRILLION With Clinton's 461 BILLION deficit factored in, we top 5 TRILLION added to the debt for the last 7 presidencies. Only Clinton's 2nd term shows a net surplus but in his 1st term unfortunately he was fiscally just like a Republican. Fortunately for the country he was able to turn that around during his second term. So 5 of the last 7 administrations have been Republican (71 percent) but they've racked up 90 percent of the debt during that time. There is no evidence supporting the reputation Republican politicians have that they are "fiscally responsible". Maybe you Republican citizens are fiscally responsible but I don't see evidence that your politicians are. No, I did not claim that Democrats politicians are fiscally responsible, I'm simply tired of hearing that Democrats are the only ones who are fiscally irresponsible. It's an epidemic on both sides and the evidence points to the Republicans as being the worst exploiters of our children's credit card. It needs to stop. During this decade I hope. |