Is it true that Bush, Bush, and Reagan account for 70% of the National Debt?

Question

http://zfacts.com/p/318.html

"How could Reagan mistake the lowest national debt for the highest?"

Apparently some answerers can't read a chart.

Answer 1

Absolutely true.

Look for that percentage to increase as well.

Recession is headed our way and Bush still has about a year left in office. Will probably be 75-80% by Nov. '08.

Edit: Although some are correct in saying that Congress determines the spending in the bills, it is up to the President to veto bills that have outlandish spending in them.

And since Bush didn't veto ANY pork-barrel laden spending bill given to him by the GOP controlled congress (2002-2006), that makes him ultimately responsible for this debt, since it occurred under his watch.

Answer 2

No your facts are out to lunch as usual. Congress NOT the President is responsible for the allocation of all budget items. Congress gets a wish list from the President they add or subtract to every line of the budget as they see fit. And send it back for veto or signing. Unlike what Congress did the President has to accept ALL or reject All of the budget. He does not have the line item modification privilidge Congress does.

Look at where the majority of the budget goes. Entitlements account for the majority of the budget. Entitlements are approved through legislation (Congress's duty). Most of the entitlements we have today started long before Bush, Bush, and Reagan took office.

When you talk about the cost of war. Don't forget about the most expensive war the US has ever had. The War on Poverty. That 'war' has cost the US government over 6 TRILLION dollars to date. Last time I checked we aren't winning. You know who declared that war? LBJ. You know what party held Congress when it was declared? Democrats.

Now Republicans didn't do much better when they were in control so I'm not letting them off scott free. Democrats aka Liberals today try slinging mud and forget to look at their own hands. They aren't clean either. The were dirty before hten even picked up the mud.

Answer 3

Presidents are not responsible for any of the national debt except by their lack of courage in not vetoing the spending that are passed by Congress. The United States Constitution says that all spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives. So if anyone wants to grumble about the National Debt do so to your Congressman, who, more than likely, is not the brightest bulb in your district.

Answer 4

OMG there's a nationwide Debt? Who cares! have you ever considered how severe the debt changed into in the time of WWII? All of those presidents you indexed had to fund a conflict or boost the protection force/study issues to assist preserve the country. If there must be debt to keep u . s . threat-free, isn't it properly worth it?

Answer 5

I still want some of you knee-padded blue-dress Democrats to tell me why, if the economy was so good under Clinton, why the National Debt increased by over 35%. What happened to the surplus $$? What financial games were being played?

Answer 6

As a Bush apologist, I must point out that if Dems had been more responsible, we would not have the other 30%. Way to go Dems, if not for you guys, we would only be 6.3 trillion in debt instead of 9 trillion.

Answer 7

Some know-it-all is going to come on here and spout something about the GNP ceiling being high enough to accommodate the debt. Mark my word...

Answer 8

You do realize that the debt ratios are moderated by the budget numbers right? And that number can be finagled?

Well, not to mention earmarks!

Answer 9

Yeah, why couldn't anybody put an end to the most costly war in history, the cold war, for free?

Answer 10

Were you even born during the Carter years?

Wow... I was. Double digit inflation, Double digit prime rates, gas lines (if you could even get gas) and the list goes on.

It was great!