The Politics of the National Debt

One of the most ironic aspects of politics of the last couple decades is how politicians whose policies are responsible for big increases in the national debt often then turn around and use the national debt as an issue to get re-elected. 


I like to approach policy issues in a non-partisan manner but it is hard on this issue.  In my lifetime consistently when Republicans run the show for awhile the National debt skyrockets, then a few years later they create a big stink about the National Debt to get reelected.  In the 1980's it was the Reagan administrations supply side economics that caused the National debt to climb rapidly.  Then, immediately after Bill Clinton and the democrats got elected in 1992 the Republicans seized on the issue to grab control of the House in 1994.  Six years later, at the end of the Clinton administration our budget was balanced and then George Bush Jr. arrived to inflate the debt again with his version of supply side - tax cuts and spend. No need to mention the state of the the economy and the debt in 2008 when Mr. Bush walked out of the White House for the last time.  Of course almost immediately Republicans started beating on the debt as an issue and have now grabbed control of the House again.


It is aggravating to have to listen to people like the Tea Party, folks that you know were fervent supporters of Reagan and both Bushes, haranguing others about the National debt. 


For those who are interested there are some very interesting, and even perhaps entertaining charts and graphs about the National debt out there.  Try this at wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_debt_by_U.S._presidential_terms

Or just do a search for National Debt and Presidents by parties.  Lots of good charts  What you will find is that since 1946 there is a 2 to 1 ratio of debt increase - the National debt goes up twice as much during Republican administrations as it does during democratic administrations.  The only way to make it even reasonably close is to start from 1940 so the entire increase attributable to  WW II (the single biggest increase in our National debt in history) lands in the Democrats column (FDR and Truman).  Start at 1946 and go forward and the 2 to 1 ratio holds up through 2009.


Not something Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or Fox news is ever going to mention.  Probably not something they are even capable of hearing.  They believe in ideology and have no time for facts that don't fit their ideology.  So pass this on.  Suggest that folks interested in the debt do a little research on who actually causes the debt to increase.  Help people build up their immunity to political BS.