Why are Republicans considered fiscally responsible when they routinely increase the federal debt?

Question

Here is the record since 1953. Since Reagan, not a single Republican has managed the federal budget responsibly. Only Clinto has reduced the federal deficit, combined, Republicans increased the deficit by nearly 45%!

Eisenhower1 Dwight Eisenhower R 1953-1957 -10.8%

Eisenhower2 Dwight Eisenhower R 1957-1961 -5.4%

Kennedy/Johnson D 1961-1965 -8.2%

Johnson Lyndon Johnson D 1965-1969 -8.3%

Nixon1 Richard Nixon R 1969-1973 -2.9%

Nixon2 Nixon/Ford R 1973-1977 +0.1%

Carter Jimmy Carter D 1977-1981 -3.2%

Ronald Reagan R 1981-1985 +11.3%

Ronald Reagan R 1985-1989 +9.2%

Bush GHW George H. W. Bush R 1989-1993 +15.1%

Clinton1 Bill Clinton D 1993-1997 -0.6%

Clinton2 Bill Clinton D 1997-2001 -8.2%

Bush GW1 George W. Bush R 2001-2005 +6.9%

Sorry PfO, you are dead wrong. What makes the mortgage market successful for Americans is leverage debt, not, the debt itself. For 20% down, a family reaps the reward of rising prices of a larger asset. So, on a $350,000 home, for 70,000 down, a family can gain the profits from the 350,000 amount. If hosing prices rise 20%, they receive a 100% return on the investment.

This has NOTHING to do with the federal debt my friend.

Answer 1

excellent post

thanks

Answer 2

An excellent question. Republicans clearly blew it, and deserved to lose in 2006. I don't know that the Democrats deserved to win, but the air of scandal and profligate spending blew it for the Republicans.

I would like to see spending reduced. But i have to pick the best, or the least bad, of the alternatives available, not some perfect choice that does not exist. I believe the Republicans, historically and currently, spend less than the Democrats. And the deficit - borrowing - is not the only measure of where the federal government gets its funds. TAXES is the main source of revenue, of course, and the Republicans have been nothing if not consistent in their desire and effort to keep taxes lower than the Democrats would.

And history has shown time and time again how the appropriate tax cut can increase economic activity and result in MORE aggregate revenue to the federal government. (The trouble is, Congress seems to spend a dollar and a half for every additional dollar it takes in!) And if the economy is bigger, then the debt is a smaller percentage of GDP - even more debt is a relatively smaller slice of the pie.

I wish you had included the marginal tax rates, and the measure of debt as a percentage of GDP, at the conclusion of each president's term. That, in my opinion, would have given a much clearer picture! But it's your question and so I'm trying to answer it by your rules.

Interesting topic! Thanks. :)

Answer 3

Because thats what they've told you they are time after time and election after election. What they are really saying is that they won't raise taxes but they don't say "we won't increase the national debt". But its not just one-sided.
Both sides have worked very hard to brand themselves in a certain color and we have heard it so many times that no matter what the evidence shows, we believe what they continue to tout.
Answer this question:
What motel chain is going to leave the light on for you?
How did you know it was Motel 6? Because that guy came on and told you every day for years and years. Was the light always on? Who knows?
What the Republicans have Always said was that Democrats
"tax and spend". They never said they weren't going to spend. Did they actually lower our taxes, or did they give us a couple of tax credits once or twice.
The Dems would have you believe that Repubs are hard line war mongerers that want to be very covert. And in some areas that has very obviously been the case. But did we ever find out Why one of Clintons top Admirals really committed suicide? And so on the story goes but its really just the way we've been branded. Just like McDonalds will forever and always be a place kids love, at least in our mind. Even though really the food isn't that great to taste either.

Answer 4

Creating the deficit and increasing the federal debt are not necessary and sufficient conditions to label someone as not being fiscally conservative. If you were to do those things and not make any plans to get back into black ink and make gains, THEN you aren't fiscally conservative.

Look at it this way. Do your parents own a house? Probably. Do they have a mortgage? Most likely. Does that make them in debt? You bet it does. Is that a bad thing? According to you it is. Not having a house can be a bad thing to. So would you rather be in debt and have a house or be homeless and fiscally conservative? Over 20 to 30 years time when the mortgage has been paid off, you've come around full circle and you can sell the house and pocket the money. Now since you went into debt at one point you can make big gains. That's how money works, and that is what all those conservatives were doing: planning on how America could make big gains.

Answer 5

They're not considered thus by anyone who pays any attention.... However, if you get your news from the Republican Radiowaves, it's hard to discern the truth from the O'Reilly Spin machines.

Answer 6

They like to paint themselves that way but obviously facts say otherwise.They believe if they keep saying it, that it will come true lol.