Who do you think has been a better steward of the U.S. economy, Bill Clinton or G.W. Bush? Why?

Answer 1

I hesitate even to answer the question for reasons that I'll explain shortly. However, I will say Clinton because he blew fewer things up. When speaking of economic progress, we often forget that real wealth is not numbers on a stock ticker or even dollars in our bank accounts. Real wealth is composed of actual physical possessions. In my opinion, politicians can't do much to actually promote real economic progress, but they can certainly do much to impede it. I can think of no greater impediment than war.

Now, here is the reason why I hesitate to even answer the question. The question implies an acceptance of central planning - socialism. I reject this idea. I would have preferred to have had neither of the two to act as "steward". I think that we would be much better off if both had just left the economy alone.

Answer 2

Bill Clinton. Gas prices were more predictable, real estate boomed under Clinton, trade deficits were stable and managed (even led to a huge surplus that Bush used in his first year). The Clinton years allowed Bush to invade two Middle Eastern nations and carry on two fronts (then he started borrowing from China.).

George Bush is not as bad for the economy as a lot of people make him out to be BUT gas prices are increasing greatly, trade deficits look scary... I am afraid that we will be really paying for Bush's policies once he leaves office.

Answer 3

Oh I just love the people that refuse to accept the fact that the economy is running about the same for Bush that it did for Clinton. I also love when they say that Bush ran up 9 Trillion in US debt.


Here are the FACTS - the day Bill Clinton stepped into office the national debt was about $4 trillion the day he left office the national debt was about $6 trillion. Its up to $9 trillion now. Bush did not run up $9 trillion worth of debt. He inherited $6 trillion in national debt.

Another common argument is that Clinton paid down the national debt. Well he did make a ONE TIME payment to the national debt of about $300 billion. That payment was made in 1996 and it was the ONLY payment made on the debt. The rest of the "surplus" that Clinton had was spent on social programs.

When are you left and right wingers going to wake up and smell the coffee?

Answer 4

The dollars worth is at an all time low.

The rich and poor are at all times high of income separation.

Dependency on foreign oil, and hardly any investment into renewable energy is going to backlash big time.

People need to realize that the stock market isn't the economy as a whole. It is a major factor, but as you can see with the dollars worth, it really isn't meaning a whole much.

Answer 5

That would be Bush.
Lower taxes = increased federal revenue + Better environment for small business.
If Clinton had been in office post hurricane Katrina, higher gas prices would have forced the economy into a recession.
Bush's tax cuts gave the economy the buffer it needed to weather the storm.

Answer 6

The president is a 'steward of the US economy,' in the same way that a stewardess is a pilot of a 747.

Answer 7

Look what happened to the national debt and deficit since the Dumbya coup. There is no money to insure children, nor a million other important things but tons for the Dictator Dumbya Big Lie Iraqi Crusade, which isn't even included in the above deficit, but all on the magic credit card. Dumbya has taken care of the "haves and have mores" and that's all he will EVER care about. Down with Dictator Dumbya!!!

Answer 8

I dunno:

Clinton: Higher taxes, balanced federal budget, rapid market growth and rapid loss

Bush: Lower taxes, lowest unemployment in history, steady market growth but increased national debt

Clinton did a better job with the Federal budget but Bush has unemployment lower and the average household income higher. Bush also had to deal with the fallout of the dot.com failures and 9/11.

I call it even.

Answer 9

Bush for exposing the Fraud that Clinton laid at the USA's feet via the tech bubble. This later allowed the fraud to move into the Housing market and the Housing Bubble.

Bush's SEC cleaned up the stock market but the greedy destroyed the Housing market that is not that heavily regulated and the greedy went there to fleece the home owners and bankers.

Under writers are now screwed as are new home owners and well home owners in general loans are now harder to get.

Bush saved our economy from total implosion.

Please don't talk about a non-existent surplus we are just dealing with the POS Clinton Legacy and you idiots want to vote him back in omg it makes me ill.

Answer 10

Bush, look at the numbers. Low unemployment, stock market hitting record highs, lower taxes.

All Clinton gave us was a new twist to the old "What this country needs is a good 5 cent cigar" which is now, "What this country needs is a good hand dipped cigar." What a perv!