Kind of a slow time for sports news, why don't we get back to bashing each other about politics. I enjoy the banter as long as no one takes it personally...and, these discussions inspire me to read and ponder...
National debt as reported by the Treasury during terms in office of Presidents over last 30 years:
Ronald Reagan:
Took office Jan. 1981. Total debt $848 billion.
Left Office January 1989. Total debt $2,698 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +218%
George H. W. Bush:
Took Office January 1989 Total debt $2,698 billion.
Left office 20 January 1993. Total debt $4,188 billion
Percent change in total debt: +55%
Bill Clinton:
Took office 20 January 1993. Total debt: $4,188 billion.
Left Office 20 January 2001. Total debt $5,728 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +37%
George W. Bush:
Took Office 20 January 2001: Total debt $5,728 billion.
Left office 20 January 2009: Total debt $10,627 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +86%
Barack Obama:
Took office: 20 January 2009: Total debt: $10,627 billion
Today: approximately $15 trillion
Remember that a big part of the initial spending of the Obama years was to put money into a banking system that was on the brink of collapse due to lack of regulation during the bush years (think: Free Market Economy) and to finance the 2nd war in Iraq...the CIA in recent months released a report that Iraq never had any weapons of mass distruction and there never was any real evidence to sugest that they did. Remember the picture of the quonset hut with trucks parked beside it that we were shown by Dick Chaney.) Oh, well, at least Haliburton made a bunch of money.
There is plenty of blame to spread around on both sides. The financial crisis belongs on the shoulders of Congress as well as the President. I agree with critics of "Obamacare" who say that the bill has major flaws. But, at least that money will be spent in this country..on Americans and to Americans. I have seen first hand many times the plight of hard working people who have no health insurance and have a child with a serious health condition or injury. By far, the biggest area of spending by our government is on the military...we have enemies around the world who must be deterred, but there is room for reduction of costs that are sending us hurtling toward bankruptcy...ie why do we need to keep bases in Germany to prevent a resurgance of the Nazi party and to deter the Soviet Union? There is no active Nazi party and the Soviet Union no longer exists. I agree with my friend Spinner that we are in desperate straits financially, but the problem lies on the shoulders of both parties. If the two parties would put aside the bitter, ugly partisanship that gridlocks progress in this country, we would all be the better for it. IMO, neither electing Republicans, nor electing Democrats is the answer. We need to elect statemen and women who will work together to solve our problems.
This post was edited on 8/8 10:49 AM by tarrantula
This post was edited on 8/8 11:00 AM by tarrantula
This post was edited on 8/8 12:56 PM by tarrantula
National debt as reported by the Treasury during terms in office of Presidents over last 30 years:
Ronald Reagan:
Took office Jan. 1981. Total debt $848 billion.
Left Office January 1989. Total debt $2,698 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +218%
George H. W. Bush:
Took Office January 1989 Total debt $2,698 billion.
Left office 20 January 1993. Total debt $4,188 billion
Percent change in total debt: +55%
Bill Clinton:
Took office 20 January 1993. Total debt: $4,188 billion.
Left Office 20 January 2001. Total debt $5,728 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +37%
George W. Bush:
Took Office 20 January 2001: Total debt $5,728 billion.
Left office 20 January 2009: Total debt $10,627 billion.
Percent change in total debt: +86%
Barack Obama:
Took office: 20 January 2009: Total debt: $10,627 billion
Today: approximately $15 trillion
Remember that a big part of the initial spending of the Obama years was to put money into a banking system that was on the brink of collapse due to lack of regulation during the bush years (think: Free Market Economy) and to finance the 2nd war in Iraq...the CIA in recent months released a report that Iraq never had any weapons of mass distruction and there never was any real evidence to sugest that they did. Remember the picture of the quonset hut with trucks parked beside it that we were shown by Dick Chaney.) Oh, well, at least Haliburton made a bunch of money.
There is plenty of blame to spread around on both sides. The financial crisis belongs on the shoulders of Congress as well as the President. I agree with critics of "Obamacare" who say that the bill has major flaws. But, at least that money will be spent in this country..on Americans and to Americans. I have seen first hand many times the plight of hard working people who have no health insurance and have a child with a serious health condition or injury. By far, the biggest area of spending by our government is on the military...we have enemies around the world who must be deterred, but there is room for reduction of costs that are sending us hurtling toward bankruptcy...ie why do we need to keep bases in Germany to prevent a resurgance of the Nazi party and to deter the Soviet Union? There is no active Nazi party and the Soviet Union no longer exists. I agree with my friend Spinner that we are in desperate straits financially, but the problem lies on the shoulders of both parties. If the two parties would put aside the bitter, ugly partisanship that gridlocks progress in this country, we would all be the better for it. IMO, neither electing Republicans, nor electing Democrats is the answer. We need to elect statemen and women who will work together to solve our problems.
This post was edited on 8/8 10:49 AM by tarrantula
This post was edited on 8/8 11:00 AM by tarrantula
This post was edited on 8/8 12:56 PM by tarrantula