Tax and spend vs. don't tax but still spend.

While never having researched the matter (until now), I have long held the opinion that Republicans have been more or less full of s _ _ t when it comes to taxation. They make a lot of noise about wanting to cut taxes, and in fact have been known to do so when given the opportunity. But they still spend money like drunken sailors.

I'm no expert, but that seems to me to be the very definition of 'passing the buck.'

I consulted the Congressional Budget Office (cbo.gov) and truthandpolitics.org to find out if I was right. And of course, (drumroll please) I was.

According to both these sources, federal spending was roughly 10% of GDP in 1940. WWII shot this percentage up to 45%, before it fell to the mid-teens during the Truman administration. The national debt also skyrocketed to 120% of GDP during WWII. Understandable.

Over a period of 22 years or so, federal spending meandered slowly up to around 20% of GDP. The national debt, meanwhile, fell slowly but consistently, through both Republican and Democratic administrations, to 35% of GDP at the beginning of the Reagan Administration

Fedral spending shot up to 25% in the early and mid-80’s before dipping slowly back. During the Clinton administration it fell from 23% in 1992 to 18% in 2000.

From 2001 to 2007 this percentage climbed to 20%.

When Clinton took over in 1992, the Debt was nearly 70%. Of GDP. When he left office in 2001 it was 58%.

Now, after 8 more years of a Republican Administration,, it is again 66%.

My point? Glad you asked. Republican presidents may (or may not) cut your taxes, but they spend just as much (or more) as anyone else. And money does not grow on trees. Okay, paper money sort of does, I guess…

If you vote Republican for lower taxes, they might deliver. But they still spend money like Popeye on payday, so you’re voting for more money in your pocket and less in your kids’ and grandkids’ pockets-if they can afford pockets.