SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : The Trump Presidency
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: zzpat who wrote (65957)4/10/2018 3:29:21 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 360038
 
Bush and the gop promised to continue the Clinton surpluses and pay down all the debt.

If the promised you the moon on a silver platter, would you have believed them? Politicians sometimes lie, sometimes spin in dubious ways that aren't out lies, sometimes make mistakes, etc.

In this context who cares what they promised. Whether because of dishonesty, bias, or un-biased error such a promise in no way reflected about reality.

You want to use not keeping promises to bash politicians. Fine I could put together a list of unkept promises from politicians that would be too big to post here, and I'm sure you could as well. But were talking about fiscal reality here not political promises. The fiscal reality is that whatever promises were made and whatever income tax rates where enacted (even rates higher than Clinton's) there was going to be budget deficits unless spending growth was controlled (and it wasn't). And no that extra spending was just "spending on wars", most of it was on other things.

Spending helps the economy grow.

Not really. Sure at the depths of a severe recession you can get some positive short term stimulus out of spending. Also some part of spending does help the economy grow, keeping general order and such is necessary for growth on all time scales, and basic research can produce results that can have long term positive economic effects. Money effectively spent on education (not more and more administrators per pupil, actually usefully spending on education) is another area that can help. But generally more government spending is not positive for growth.

 When we went from +128 billion to -412 billion after taxes were cut

And after spending was increased even more than taxes were cut.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2026 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News