[lentulusgracchus]

That first big spike in 2009 is from a budget that had George W. Bush's signature on it.

AFAIC, that spike was Hank the Shank's and Helicopter Ben's work -- remember the "panic" bailout bill? The one we absolutely, positively had to pass overnight, for a zillion damned dollars or the whole world is going to hell?

We basically cut a huge check to four or five Wall Street investment banks, and they bailed out their buddies. They ripped us off.

[Moonman62]

AFAIC, that spike was Hank the Shank's and Helicopter Ben's work -- remember the "panic" bailout bill? The one we absolutely, positively had to pass overnight, for a zillion damned dollars or the whole world is going to hell?

One should consider this quote by W:

"I've abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system"