Repeated lies? "Since WW ll, only republican Congress's have passed a balanced budget"?

Question

I have seen this in several answers and it is not true. I believe everyone is entitled to their own opinion but not their own facts. Is there any way to put a stop to the spread of this sort of mis-information in Yahoo answers?

Truman budget was in surplus 5 times, 2 with a republican congress. Eisenhower passed 3 all with Democratic a congress. There has been no budget surplus since then, although Clinton had a surplus if you fold in the social security trust fund.

I don't care about the spin, and I consider party positions 50 years ago not important for making decisions today since the world, the country , the politicians and even most of the voters are not the same. However rewriting history bothers me.

Answer 1

I went digging for my own data and found exactly what everyone else found.

What was alarming was how often the Federal budget was in deficit. Since 1900, the budget has been balanced or in surplus only 33 times. There has been a deficit 73 times. If I ran my checkbook like Congress runs the country, I would be in jail for passing bad checks.

"The American Republic will endure, until politicians realize they can bribe the people with their own money."
---Alexis de Tocqueville

Edit: This includes Republicans AND Democrats

Answer 2

Here you go open thoughts:

http://www.cedarcomm.com/~stevelm1/usdebt.htm

There's some truth to both positions for different reasons. A balanced budget might still increase debt, or a massive increase in debt might cause the budget to balance, depending on your perspective and how you choose to interpret the data (or "spin" the data as some would like to say).

IMHO, both parties are in a shameful state of budgetary denial.

Answer 3

You say it is not true, but you do not state any relevant facts to show otherwise...interesting. Could it be that you cannot refute it with facts?

Great....good information. I could not think whether it had happened or not, but I also had never claimed that it was true, either.

Many people come on here and spout off, but have nothing except what their friend told them or something.

Oh, and in answer to your question, no there is no way to stop the spread of this stuff on YA.

Answer 4

I know my social security was fine until the Democrats moved money to pay for other crap, and now they raise the age I have to work to get my money,, so pretty much hands down I hate them