From Frank and Carol Mixdorf
New Glarus
So, what are the two biggest issues that people are angry - really angry - about this year? Seems to be creating jobs and reining in government spending. The rhetoric from the Republicans running for all offices is that they're the ones to tackle the problems. Right? Well, not so fast. What they say and what they do are not the same thing. Let's take the long view here.
As reported in the Wall Street Journal, over 57 million jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies since 1945 vs. just over 36 million jobs under Republicans, and the Republicans have had more years in office. Per year-in-office, twice as many jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies.
What about all that horrific spending? Again, the numbers are simply astonishing. Adjusted to 2010 dollars, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget reports that over the last 32 fiscal years, Republican presidencies have resulted in the creation of $9.1 trillion in government debt. For the Dems, $2.1 trillion in debt. Oh sure, you say, but the Republicans have had more years in office during that time; yes, they have. Still, per year-in-office, nearly three times as much federal debt has been created with Republicans in charge.
These are macro-economic facts, not just emotion-driven opinions or an attempt to "spin" the information. Whether or not you liked TARP (Bush) or "the stimulus package" (Obama), we have averted the second Great Depression; experts even say the "Great Recession" has now ended. This is not the time to be throwing out Democrats. Having Republicans and their financial policies in charge (with almost $5 trillion in debt creation under George W. Bush) drove us into the economic ditch. We can't afford to give them the keys back - at any level of government. Democratic candidates need our votes.
(Sources: Jobs Data: Wall Street Journal, 1/9/09 "Bush on Jobs: The Worst Track Record on Record." Federal Debt: A Debt Is A Tax.com)
New Glarus
So, what are the two biggest issues that people are angry - really angry - about this year? Seems to be creating jobs and reining in government spending. The rhetoric from the Republicans running for all offices is that they're the ones to tackle the problems. Right? Well, not so fast. What they say and what they do are not the same thing. Let's take the long view here.
As reported in the Wall Street Journal, over 57 million jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies since 1945 vs. just over 36 million jobs under Republicans, and the Republicans have had more years in office. Per year-in-office, twice as many jobs have been created during Democratic presidencies.
What about all that horrific spending? Again, the numbers are simply astonishing. Adjusted to 2010 dollars, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget reports that over the last 32 fiscal years, Republican presidencies have resulted in the creation of $9.1 trillion in government debt. For the Dems, $2.1 trillion in debt. Oh sure, you say, but the Republicans have had more years in office during that time; yes, they have. Still, per year-in-office, nearly three times as much federal debt has been created with Republicans in charge.
These are macro-economic facts, not just emotion-driven opinions or an attempt to "spin" the information. Whether or not you liked TARP (Bush) or "the stimulus package" (Obama), we have averted the second Great Depression; experts even say the "Great Recession" has now ended. This is not the time to be throwing out Democrats. Having Republicans and their financial policies in charge (with almost $5 trillion in debt creation under George W. Bush) drove us into the economic ditch. We can't afford to give them the keys back - at any level of government. Democratic candidates need our votes.
(Sources: Jobs Data: Wall Street Journal, 1/9/09 "Bush on Jobs: The Worst Track Record on Record." Federal Debt: A Debt Is A Tax.com
