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A guy named "Groucho Marx" at Capitol Grilling has produced the preceding study of budget deficits and surpluses, ADJUSTED FOR INFLATION, going back to 1930. I thought that some Freepers might be interested in seeing it. More from "Groucho":

"That's a 78-year period. Control of Congress was divided for eight years. The Republicans controlled Congress for 18 years and ran up a deficit of $709.63 billion in 2007 dollars, for an average of $39.42 billion. In seven of the 18 years (39%), the Republicans in Congress had a budget surplus.

"The Defeatocrats controlled Congress for 52 years and ran up a deficit of $7,263.68 billion in 2007 dollars, for an average of $139.69 billion -- nearly four times as large. In only four of those 52 years (7.7%), the Defeatocrats in Congress had a budget surplus. By the way, after adjusting for inflation, the recent budget deficits are not the largest in history. The deficits of 1943, 1944 and 1945, with Defeatocrats in control, were all larger. And while the 2004 deficit was fourth largest, the fifth largest and sixth largest were in 1983 (with split control of Congress) and 1992 (with Defeatocrat control of Congress).

"Starting with Fiscal Year 2008 (which started on October 1, 2007), the Defeatocrats have control of Congress (and the tax code, and the budget) once again. Let's see how they do with the budget. Can they produce a surplus?

"Hell no. They are genetically incapable of it. They haven't produced a budget surplus since 1969."

1 posted on 11/04/2007 10:50:32 PM PST by Philo1962
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To: goseminoles; Balding_Eagle; SouthernBelle; LS; Willie Green; pgkdan; Hugh Akston; Free Speech; ...

Ping.


2 posted on 11/04/2007 10:51:48 PM PST by Philo1962 (Iraq is terrorist flypaper. They go there to die.)
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To: Philo1962

Neither party has anything to be proud of. Vote them ALL out!


3 posted on 11/04/2007 11:00:57 PM PST by Mobile Vulgus
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To: Philo1962
Which party?

I hate sounding so glib, but if you look at my tagline you have my answer. We really do have one party with two slightly-different wings, because neither side has the balls to be what they truly want to be, as opposed to what they want us to believe they are.

4 posted on 11/04/2007 11:03:30 PM PST by Darkwolf377 (Pro-Life atheist Bostonian no longer sure about this party, positive about the dummies.)
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To: Philo1962
The party that most inhibits growth.

We cannot drill for new fuel sources within the USA without prohibitive and punitive restrictions. Tyrannical taxation creates a tremendous barrier to new start-up businesses making it a game of a few instead of the many. Ridiculous environmental restrictions prohibit new construction where needed.

And the democrat elite laugh and then cast the blame on everyone else.

But the truth is obvious...

5 posted on 11/05/2007 1:05:18 AM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: Philo1962
IOW, there is a HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PARTIES historically speaking. I tire of hearing "there is no difference" rhetoric of some of our friends here on FR.

The only quibble I would have with the article is the emphasis on the largest deficits:

The deficits of 1943, 1944 and 1945, with Defeatocrats in control, were all larger.

While true, within context, these deficits are ENTIRELY justifiable and understandable, as the nation was trying to defeat totalitarians on a world wide scale.

I also want to emphasize the minority Republican party was not constantly denigrating our troops and the President's efforts in the war, either, during those years.

6 posted on 11/05/2007 1:54:59 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat ((I am SO glad to no longer be associated with the party of Dependence on Government!))
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To: Philo1962

ping


7 posted on 11/05/2007 2:53:24 AM PST by N2Gems
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To: ourusa

ping — important info


8 posted on 11/05/2007 3:11:33 AM PST by bmwcyle (BOMB, BOMB, BOMB,.......BOMB, BOMB IRAN)
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To: Philo1962

Low tax rates are the only way to protect what we earn from getting into their spending spree.


9 posted on 11/05/2007 3:14:58 AM PST by Son House ($$Proud Member of Vast Right Wing, Out To Lower Your Tax Rates For More Opportunities.$$)
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To: Philo1962

“Which party is the most to blame for the national debt?”
Definition of a rhetorical question. :-)


13 posted on 11/05/2007 4:50:35 AM PST by jmaroneps37 (Conservatives live in the truth. Liberals live in lies.)
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To: Philo1962

A bit of clarification is needed...

1930-2007 N=Neither
1930-2007 D=Democrat
1930-2001 R=Republican
2002-2007 R=Rino


16 posted on 11/05/2007 5:51:05 AM PST by anonsquared
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To: Philo1962

About half of the $9 trillon national debt is connected to the entitlement programs. e.g., the SS Trust Fund. So by that measure, I would blame the Dems for the most part for originating these unsustainable programs and dominating Congress for close to half a century, including a stretch of 40 straight years controlling the House.


18 posted on 11/05/2007 6:00:11 AM PST by kabar
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To: Philo1962
The fact is, if you go back to JEFFERSON'S time, you find that NO administration---save two brief periods during national recessions---cut spending. NONE. Not the "small-government" Jeffersonians or the much heralded Martin Van Buren or the "good" Democrat Cleveland. Spending fell slightly in the Coolidge years, but that was BAD news because he accomplished this largely by reducing military preparedness, which we paid for later. I like Coolidge, but he was weak on defense.

If you want the real answer, it lies in the nature of the two-party system, in which parties must promise jobs (either directly, or indirectly through government favors/support/programs/spending) to get elected. That simply isn't going to change.

The only option is to lower taxes and create an economy that can outgrow government and RELATIVELY reduce the rate of growth.

20 posted on 11/05/2007 6:06:08 AM PST by LS
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To: Philo1962

The American People are to blame, not the political parties.

We refuse to make term limits the law of the land.

Half of us won’t make time to vote, even if its ‘none of the above’.

We’re getting the government we deserve, folks. I know some don’t want to view it that way, preferring to blame Republicans or Democrats...and not considering the real problem.

We see the problem every day.

Its ‘We the People’. The two major political parties are just a SYMPTOM.


21 posted on 11/05/2007 6:09:47 AM PST by Badeye ('Ron Paul joined 88 Democrats.....")
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To: Philo1962
This data isn't all that useful. There is war spending that hasn't been properly taken into account and payroll tax money coming in (that gets spent instead of saved/invested), each working their own data-skewing effects into the deficit numbers.

Why even focus on the deficit, though? Is it really that important? I'm of the opinion that the real non-defense spending per capita numbers would be of far more use to those people who have their minds on liberty and identifying -- by seeing who spent less -- which party is best suited to "ensure the blessings" of such.

23 posted on 11/05/2007 6:39:31 AM PST by LowCountryJoe (I'm a Paleo-liberal: I believe in freedom; am socially independent and a borderline fiscal anarchist)
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To: Philo1962

Both


27 posted on 11/05/2007 8:47:58 AM PST by purpleraine
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To: Philo1962
Which party is the most to blame for the national debt?

The Federal Government Party. Which used to have two distinct factions, though it's getting a lot harder to tell them apart. ;)

29 posted on 11/05/2007 8:50:37 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("Wise men don't need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: Philo1962

Reagan and Bush II made huge deficits. Sorry to burst your bubble. If you ask that question to anyone you will receive the same anwer.


40 posted on 11/06/2007 1:05:28 AM PST by napscoordinator
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To: Philo1962

The only good government is a deadlocked government.


42 posted on 11/07/2007 2:33:59 PM PST by trumandogz (Hunter Thompson 2008)
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To: Philo1962
President Johnson and Roosevelt have been the two biggest spenders. That's my take on things anyway.

WatchingHillary.com


48 posted on 11/18/2007 1:43:34 AM PST by GaryLee1990 (www.WatchingHillary.com)
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