It's tax return time. Time to dip into the past which reminds us of the legacy left by the economic policies of our past leaders.

In the 1040 instruction book can be found a pie chart. It gives a good snap shot of what is happening to our revenue (tax and borrowing) dollar and our spending dollar. I present below 1991, 2000 and 2006. (Although I paid taxes in 1980 I no longer have the 1040 instructions. I would be great full for a copy from anyone who does.)
Here they are:
1991
(link...)

2000
(link...)

and 2006
(link...)

The election of 1980 was notable for the third party candidacie of John Anderson on what I remember as a socially liberal and fiscally conservative platform. (link...)

However, Regan won and put the nation on a Borrow and Spend frenzy.

After nearly 11 years of republican (miss) management of our nations financial affairs by the Borrow and Spend great communicator, followed by four years of the silver foot in his mouth president, we were borrowing 21 cents of every dollar we spent. We were borrowing one additional cent for every cent we paid in interest. Only someone who is so anti intellectual as to have avoided studying any math can see that that is a recipe for disaster.

To his credit, Bush I did try to address the debt problem late in his term but not boldly and his party contributed to his defeat for his action. It was once again the third party candidate Ross Perot who was the voice of fiscal reason in 1992.
(link...)

Bush lost, Perot lost and Bill Clinton won and much to my approval he seams to have adopted Perot's cause of fiscal responsibility. He had several show downs with the Republican congress demanding that they balance their revenue and spending. During the Clinton terms the pie charts had developed a growing wedge which had never appeared during the Regan, Bush I presidencies; A surplus. This surplus was gaining on the debt. For every eleven cents of debt interest we spent 12 cents to reduce the principal owed. If sustained this rate could have wiped out the debt in less than ten years.

I have never heard Republicans correct their erroneous assertions that the Clinton spending cuts and tax increases of 1991 would rune the economy. Such assertions should be challenged for what they are: FACT FREE arguments.

Since 2001 Republicans have been shoveling our money out to special interests in spectacular amounts.
So today in 2007 we are again borrowing against the future.

Never the less, it is we the voters who let any and all politicians get away with deficit spending, who are ultimately to blame. We must either cut spending or increase revenue to balance the budget.

Does anyone know if John Duncan's district is in balance? Is John Duncan's district (and are we) contributors to deficit spending?

Forrest Erickson