Ronald Reagan, closet socialist
President Obama is being accused by some of pursuing a socialist agenda. His critics claim that under Obama, the federal government will consume more and more of what the American people produce, leaving less and less to be spent by the private economy.
It raises an interesting question: How much of our nation’s annual income OUGHT to be available for spending by the federal government? What’s the right level? Since 1970, the annual federal budget has been as low as 18.4 percent of our gross domestic product, and as high as 23.5 percent. (In 2008, preliminary figures say it was 20.5 percent.) (Source, Historical Tables, Office of Management and Budget).
Interestingly, that peak of 23.5 percent occurred in 1983, under President Ronald Reagan. In fact, the federal government consumed a greater share of our national income that year than in any year since the end of World War II.
To take it further, since 1947, the four years in which the federal government consumed the biggest chunk of our national income — the years in which Washington stole the most food off our children’s plates, as conservative rhetoric might put it — all occurred under Reagan.
They were, in order, 1983 (23.5 percent), 1982 (23.1 percent), 1985 (22.9 percent) and 1986 (22.4 percent).
Conversely, since 1970, the federal government spent the least amount of our national income in 2000 — 18.4 percent. That was under President Clinton.
In fact, the three post-’70 years in which the federal government consumed the smallest proportion of our national income were all under budgets signed into law by Clinton — 2000 (18.4 percent); 2001 (18.5 percent); 1999 (18.7 percent).
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108 comments Add your comment
Tech82
February 26th, 2009
9:02 pm
Taxpayer – I applaud Obama for proposing that ALL spending be included in the federal budget. I’ll believe it when I see it but I applaud him for speaking out in favor of it.
The clear inference of your post is that Bush is the only president to operate large portions of the government off-budget. In fact, if Obama is successful in his quest to include all expenses in the budget, he’ll be the FIRST president in the modern era to do so. But hey, don’t let something as trivial a fact get in the way of your misguided liberal rants.
Taxpayer
February 26th, 2009
9:15 pm
Tech82,
Please do share with me how I can be expressing some misguided liberal rant when all I have offered you regarding Obama’s plans is what he has promised. It’s up to him to keep it, right. Surely, you will allow him to try without too much complaining. Now, that’s one piece of change I can hope for from you. Further, you asked a question and I answered it. Then, you decide to behave childishly. Why is that. Are you upset with me for some unknown reason. Did you ask the question just to give yourself the opportunity to express yourself regarding my post, regardless of what I would have posted. Do tell me, what have I ever done to you. Go ahead, tell me.
Tech82
February 26th, 2009
9:21 pm
I would have accepted your response at face value until you decided to take a gratuitous shot at Bush. After that, I decided to correct you which, it appears, others have to do frequently on this blog.
Now, you should go to bed before your Geritol wears off.
Taxpayer
February 26th, 2009
9:46 pm
Tech82,
There was no gratuitous shot on my part. You stand corrected. But, you likely are simply not aware of the fact that Obama said that Bush hid these items by keeping them off the budget. Again, I was simply re-stating his words. So, if you wish to call Obama a liar, I will not be surprised but you have no basis for begrudging me simply because you are not aware of the facts in this matter. And, again you decide to throw out the childish remarks. Do they really make you feel better. Do you just need a complete stranger to lash out against so desperately. Really. So, again I ask what have I really ever done to you to deserve your childish behavior. Also, please feel free to highlight any post where I was truly being corrected as opposed to just being verbally assaulted with yet more childish behavior. I do not think that you are capable of such a task but feel free to try if you think you can.
Tech82
February 26th, 2009
10:27 pm
Taxpayer, I will yield to you as the master of childish remarks. You repeatedly attack your detractors with petty name calling and insults. You are one of the more misinformed participants on this blog.
I have no problem with liberals that take the time to arm themselves with facts. They are a necessary part of the political debate. What I have a problem with is blindly ignorant, partisan hacks who claim to have multiple degrees but display little or no intelligence. These people (yes, I count you among them) add no value to the discourse but rather, litter the board with baseless noise.
Taxpayer
February 26th, 2009
10:45 pm
Tech82,
I see you have simply chosen to continue to pursue your familiar approach of childish attacks against someone that you clearly know nothing about. Yet, to hear you speak, I would need to (falsely) assume that we have known each other for fifty years. You claim that I am the attacker and that I am the one calling you names, yet you are unable to substantiate your claims. The reason is simple — they are lies. You are a liar. Further, your problems extend much deeper than your outward bias toward anyone that challenges your limited knowledge base. Now, would you care to contact Jay and ask him to make arrangements with me to provide proof of my three degrees. I gladly do it in exchange for a written anonymous apology from you to me for Jay to post. That’s all I ask of you if you think yourself man enough to accept my simple little challenge. So, are you a man or a child. Think it over, sleep on it and look for me on the most current thread to give me your decision. By the way, I also noticed that you chose not to accept my earlier challenge to find a post where I had indeed been corrected. Not very manly of you. Let’s see if that track record of yours continues, shall we.
Frederick Douglass
February 27th, 2009
1:04 am
I knew Obama would get tagged with the bank nationalization idea, when actually the bigot Lindsay Graham (R) SC. was the first to propose the
move.
Copyleft
February 27th, 2009
8:02 am
Reagan the Republican Icon bears little resemblance to the Reagan who actually served as president. In particular, his actions in office seem directly in opposition to what modern conservatives claim he “represents.”
And they whine about “Obama-worship,” even as they light candles to their Patron Saint of Deregulation in their home shrines….