Why was it Ok for Repubs to increase US debt during their terms?

A black guy is president.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infographics/us-national...

It was not OK for the Repubs to increase the US debt during their terms. I have been speaking against running up the debt, and deficit spending since the 1980's regardless of who has been in office. In the 1990s I argued that the economy was falsely inflated by wealthfair and government subsidies and it was going to crash. I was staunchly rebuked "look at the DOW it is over 11000, you are crazy" to which I responded if the DOW were based on actual industry rather than subsidies 6000 or 7000, the longer this goes the worse the crash will be. Well folks, here we are in the middle of year three of the crash -- no relief in sight.. When will we know the economy is on the way back? When the bad debt is liquidated, the US resumes making things and the DOW has adjusted to 6000 or 7000 (where it should be based upon actual private sector productivity)

If the debt limit was $11.3 trillion when Bush left office and it is now hovering at $14.3 trillion, that means it increased a total of $3 trillion during the Obama administration or just a little less than 30%. Of course part of that $3 trillion increase was baked into the last budget that Bush signed. Over $800 billion was spent on the economic stimulus bill that Obama signed a third of which I believe consisted of tax cuts and credits designed to provide a supply-side stimulus designed to balance the Keynsian stimulus. But a significant portion of the ensuing deficits have been a result of the same deficit drivers left over from the Bush administration which were unfunded tax cuts, two wars, Medicaid Part D and new borrowings to pay the interest on the ever growing national debt.

The great recession, which occurred before Obama's presidency began, has accounted for a substantial drop in federal tax revenues and thus expanding budget deficits. So whoever you may think is most to blame for all or most of this mess, the fact is that until middle class hiring picks up dramatically because of robust private sector job creation there will continue to be insufficient consumer demand to really accelerate GDP growth.

We need to be focusing on growing the economy by developing sound policies that encourage capital investment and private sector job growth. That is the only way to get the American economy humming and generating more tax revenues organically. Individual and corporate reform which generates more tax revenues is necessary. Health care entitlement reform is necessary too. Cutting spending that is duplicative or wasteful absolutely must be identified and eliminated as well. Other cuts or reductions of programs large and small may also be helpful, but they pale in comparison to the effect that sound policies intended to achieve full employment rapidly and to encourage capital investment in the American economy will do and they are not unrelated to smarter federal spending that will invigorate economic activity and generate more taxes organically apart from any tax code reform that may or may not occur in our lifetimes.

There are many pressing issues of national importance. The national debt is but one of them albeit a serous one that must be addressed. But policies that unabashedly promote capital investment, private sector job creation and economic growth will generate more tax revenues to pay our bills than anything else at this moment.

I can't find my reading glasses and I'm trying to watch Chelsea Handler too. So if I have made any mistakes, you have my sincerest apologies.

The logical republican answer will be that it is EITHER the fault of the President or Congress (Depending on what best suits the political situation at that moment). In cases when the Republicans have the Presidency and both houses, it reverts to the fault of prior Democratic administrations.

Our system is so messed-up that non-working families are better off financially when Dad doesn't live at home and Momma has babies from several fathers.

“The heart of liberalism really is a hatred for God and a belief that government should replace God.” --Todd Akin

And people ask: Why aren't you liberal?

Because President Obama was not in office then. This a referendum on his Presidency. It's NO to everything.

They are like the guy who farts on the elevator and gets off at the next floor.

My Senator, Patty Murray ( D ) WA, voted over her term to increase the debt ceiling a total of 7.4 TRILLION dollars.

How many other DEMS did the same thing ??

Blaming one side and not both for this mess hypocritical and disingenuous.

Bush messed up the house. Agreed. But he had a lot of help from the Harry and Nancy show.

Remember who controls the purse strings? Or did you give the Republican Congress credit for Clinton's fiscal austerity?

Then Obama came in and trashed the place with a two year 'hookers and blow' spending bash.

Don't believe it's been as high as it is now...14 trillion ? Come on.

Acute principle deficiency.