4 ms·

This is nonsense considering the last time the Democrats controlled the budget that wasn't also during the worst financial crisis in decades, they balanced the

This is nonsense considering the last time the Democrats controlled the budget that wasn't also during the worst financial crisis in decades, they balanced the budget. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_Bill_Clinton_administration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_policy_of_the_Bill_Cl...

mywittyname 8y ago
Because he made huge cuts to social welfare programs as he was required to do in order to get a budget passed through a heavily Republican congress. Taxes were also raised and military spending was held steady throughout the 90s.
AnimalMuppet 8y ago
Not so fast. In 1993/4, Clinton had a plan to cut the budget, with the bulk of the cuts set to happen after he left office, even if he had two terms (which was not a given then). Then the Republicans took Congress in 1994, and they basically starved Clinton of money, and the result was not just a balanced budget, but a surplus. But Clinton doesn't get the credit - he wasn't going to do it on his own. Congress forced him to. For that matter, the previous Democratic president to balance the budget was Andrew Jackson, so don't act like the Democrats are the party who balances the budget. But Republicans only seem to care about financial prudence when they're not in power (or at least, not in the White House). If you actually care about a balanced budget and financial responsibility... the US may not be the right country for you. (Maybe Switzerland?)
- sjg007 8y ago
  Republicans only care because it’s a wedge issue to get elected. But you are correct, they are the party of hypocrisy. The real problem is that nobody cares and that not enough people who do actually vote.
  - thelasthuman 8y ago
    The real problem is both main stream political parties don't represent around 45% of the country. First Past The Post Voting- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo Range Voting- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig Single Transferable Vote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI Alternative Vote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y3jE3B8HsE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y3jE3B8HsE Mixed-Member Proportional Representation -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0I-sdoSXU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0I-sdoSXU
- yourbandsucks 8y ago
  LBJ was the only President since WWII to actually reduce government spending in a given year. Carter made the tough call of appointing Volcker and taking an economic hit to fix the inflation problem. Bill Clinton did in fact leave office with a budget surplus. He deserves at least 50% of the credit, maybe more, for keeping the government running effectively while being starved by the Republicans. Obama inherited a record deficit and economy in free-fall, he still managed to cut that deficit in half. I'll take that record on deficits over those of Reagan, GWB and Trump any day.

mywittyname 8y ago

Because he made huge cuts to social welfare programs as he was required to do in order to get a budget passed through a heavily Republican congress. Taxes were also raised and military spending was held steady throughout the 90s.

AnimalMuppet 8y ago

Not so fast. In 1993/4, Clinton had a plan to cut the budget, with the bulk of the cuts set to happen after he left office, even if he had two terms (which was not a given then). Then the Republicans took Congress in 1994, and they basically starved Clinton of money, and the result was not just a balanced budget, but a surplus. But Clinton doesn't get the credit - he wasn't going to do it on his own. Congress forced him to. For that matter, the previous Democratic president to balance the budget was Andrew Jackson, so don't act like the Democrats are the party who balances the budget. But Republicans only seem to care about financial prudence when they're not in power (or at least, not in the White House). If you actually care about a balanced budget and financial responsibility... the US may not be the right country for you. (Maybe Switzerland?)

sjg007 8y ago
Republicans only care because it’s a wedge issue to get elected. But you are correct, they are the party of hypocrisy. The real problem is that nobody cares and that not enough people who do actually vote.
- thelasthuman 8y ago
  The real problem is both main stream political parties don't represent around 45% of the country. First Past The Post Voting- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7tWHJfhiyo Range Voting- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3GFG0sXIig Single Transferable Vote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI Alternative Vote - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y3jE3B8HsE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y3jE3B8HsE Mixed-Member Proportional Representation -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0I-sdoSXU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0I-sdoSXU
yourbandsucks 8y ago
LBJ was the only President since WWII to actually reduce government spending in a given year. Carter made the tough call of appointing Volcker and taking an economic hit to fix the inflation problem. Bill Clinton did in fact leave office with a budget surplus. He deserves at least 50% of the credit, maybe more, for keeping the government running effectively while being starved by the Republicans. Obama inherited a record deficit and economy in free-fall, he still managed to cut that deficit in half. I'll take that record on deficits over those of Reagan, GWB and Trump any day.