OKay, Pup et.al.—the government has spent LESS MONEY than in the last 60 years. No amount of watching Faux News or listening to RUSH will negate the fact that GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS THE LOWEST IN 60 years. Google those words and Learn Something!
majormarj, I’m clearly on your side of the political spectrum, but I need to clarify something. The goverment has recently spent less money AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP. Note that I’m not downplaying the importance of this ratio or the point you are making.*There was a huge spike in goverment spending as a percentage of GDP during WWII. It went down immediately after the war and from the mid 40s to the mid 50s, spending rose to about 20% of GDP and (per your point) has more or less leveled off for 60 years. It did rise to about 25% for the year immediately after the Sep 2008 melt-down, due to the combination of W’s TARP, Obama’s bank bailout and stimulus and a shrinking economy (the ratio rises just as much by a shrinking GDP as it does by increased spending). And it has come back down closer to 20% again.*Here’s the chart (sorry for the long URL): http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4e1c5ade4bd7c86b22030000-590/and-heres-another-look-at-federal-spending-as-a-percent-of-gdp-for-the-past-century-its-not-way-out-of-whack-these-days-at-least-relative-to-the-last-60-years-but-thanks-to-the-stimulus-its-higher-than-it-has-been-since-world-war-2-and-the-republicans-are-probably-right-its-too-high.jpg
Thanks, Joe. For the others- its business as usual, the way the politicruds on both sides like it. If Obama Reed or Boehner want to distinguish themselves – get something passed on the merits.
Marty Z about 11 years ago
Better to be on time and not include the cost of 2 wars, right Howie?
adherent#1 about 11 years ago
The tea party wants the government to crash!?!?
Yikes! Have you read what your guys want ala Saul Alinsky?
Here’s the deal …I’m waiting for hangings…You know, like Revolutionary France.
Marty Z about 11 years ago
Pup, “…your guys…”? Don’t you have any examples less than 40 years old? Sad.
NoFearPup about 11 years ago
Obama just aint “all that”. It’s taken him 4.5 years to get where Bill was in his FIRST year…
pam Miner about 11 years ago
most teams wouldn’t let the yellow bellied cheer-suckers onto the playing field.
majormarj about 11 years ago
OKay, Pup et.al.—the government has spent LESS MONEY than in the last 60 years. No amount of watching Faux News or listening to RUSH will negate the fact that GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS THE LOWEST IN 60 years. Google those words and Learn Something!
Marty Z about 11 years ago
majormarj, I’m clearly on your side of the political spectrum, but I need to clarify something. The goverment has recently spent less money AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP. Note that I’m not downplaying the importance of this ratio or the point you are making.*There was a huge spike in goverment spending as a percentage of GDP during WWII. It went down immediately after the war and from the mid 40s to the mid 50s, spending rose to about 20% of GDP and (per your point) has more or less leveled off for 60 years. It did rise to about 25% for the year immediately after the Sep 2008 melt-down, due to the combination of W’s TARP, Obama’s bank bailout and stimulus and a shrinking economy (the ratio rises just as much by a shrinking GDP as it does by increased spending). And it has come back down closer to 20% again.*Here’s the chart (sorry for the long URL): http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/4e1c5ade4bd7c86b22030000-590/and-heres-another-look-at-federal-spending-as-a-percent-of-gdp-for-the-past-century-its-not-way-out-of-whack-these-days-at-least-relative-to-the-last-60-years-but-thanks-to-the-stimulus-its-higher-than-it-has-been-since-world-war-2-and-the-republicans-are-probably-right-its-too-high.jpg
adherent#1 about 11 years ago
Thanks, Joe. For the others- its business as usual, the way the politicruds on both sides like it. If Obama Reed or Boehner want to distinguish themselves – get something passed on the merits.