National Debt, Rep vs Dem

Republican vs Democratic control of Congress

Rounded of to the nearest billion

1/22/01 Republican control of Congress...Debt 5,728,000,000,000
to)
1/20/07 Republican control of Congress...Debt 8,675,000,000,000

Increase in National Debt under Rep. Congress 2,947,000,000,000 (6yrs.)


1/21/07 Democratic control of Congress Debt 8,675,000,000,000
to)
Pres. National Debt Dem. controlled Congress Debt 12,111,000,000,000

Increase in National Debt under Dem. Congress 3,436,000,000,000 (3yrs.)

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

Since Congress controls spending, the only fair way to attribute a rise in national debt is to Congress. For some reason you may want to blame the President but the fact remains Congress spends the money.

 

I've been trying to explain this to people for many years. "It's the Congress, stupid" is nicely starting to sink in now.

People either blame the President way too much or give him far too much credit. That's every President, all the time. Because it's easy, the intellectually lazy and emotional thing to do.

But unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans are both intellectually lazy and emotional. Or intellectually dishonest. Or all three. No matter the stripe or even lack of any stripe.

But, millions are starting to wise up.

 

So?

What's your point?

Congress is supposed to spend money. Spending is among the very first of the declared powers of Congress.

 

Is that your simpleton interpretation of Section 8? Or, have you even read it?

Congress is supposed to represent the people. When the people don't like the representation they have the right to remove them at the voting booth. But most everyone's focused on the President when the real power resides with Congress.

That's the point.

 

Congress is not supposed to spend money.

Congress is not supposed to take our money and give it to others in the form of bribes and handouts. Democrats assume that our money is their money. That's why they call a tax-cut a loss.

They are supposed to be spend wisely not wastefully.

Figure the odds on that ever happening.

What has happened is the Democrats have figured out new and inventive ways to raise our taxes.

 

That's the way I dumb-it-down for dimwits who don't understand it.

That may be but you're whining about spending. Regardless of who's responsible for it, it's what the government is supposed to do.

 

I think right now the best thing they could do is nothing.

 

I'm assuming you've read Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constitution but just don't believe it.

Is that right?

 

Nothing?

Are you serious?

Are you seriously saying Congress and the President should just ignore the disaster wrought by almost 30 years of Conservative bungling of public policy. Our bridges just fall down. We have the 37th best health care system in the world. We have the highest percentage of starving children in the industrialized world. Are you seriously saying Congress and the President should do nothing?

 

Yes...I read it and I also know that taxation without representation was the primary reason we are a separate nation now.