Need help with facts

[wysimdnwyg]

A friend at work is arguing that Bush is decreasing spending and inherited a deficit. I need help with the counter-argument, including sources.

Here's his e-mail:
"...1999 was a deficit year, so Bush couldn't have TURNED a surplus into a deficit. Second, the deficit wasn't really CAUSED by anyone. The proposed spending increases have been dropping since Bush took office. (2000 - 15%), 2001(11%), 2002(7%), 2003(4%). The problem was that through the 90s the government got used to having a good income. Since mid 1998, the actual beginning of the recession, the government's income has been dropping. If spending doesn't drop at the same rate of income, your deficit increases. If it increases enough, you no longer have a surplus. So actually, the economy turned a surplus into a deficit..."

[trotsky]

1. Wow, serious denial.

Your friend is A) stupid, and B) probably not worth arguing with.

A recession is DEFINED AS two consecutive quarters of negative economic growth. The economy kept growing under Clinton. The recession did not start until March of 2001, under Bush. (And after him & Cheney giving breathless warnings that we could be headed for recession. Nothing like a self-fulfilling prophecy to get the markets all riled up.)

How on earth anyone can think a recession began in mid-1998, I really don't know. If he can't get past that, there is really no point in trying to crack thru his thick skull.

[bobbyboucher]

2. JALBA

Just Another Lying Bush Apologist.

Or is he a CCCGW?

Clinton's cock caused global warming.

Or perhaps a SIIBBEM?

Sniveling ignorance is bliss bugger eating moran?

[wysimdnwyg]

3. JALBA, it is!

But that doesn't help with the counter-argument. I know that the deficit did not start until 2001, but I need a source for the numbers. I can spout the truth, but he says he's got the numbers in front of him. I have to have somewhere I can direct him that positively refutes his statement.

THANKS!

[trotsky]

4. Here you go.

http://www.nber.org/cycles/november2001/recessnov.html

(National Bureau of Economic Research. I think they have some credibility.)

Also it is worth noting that Clinton's LAST budget was for 2001 - "coincidentally" the last year we had a surplus. (Obviously, when a president sits down to propose a budget, he is proposing for NEXT year, not the current year.)

[supercrash]

5. OMG

Your friend is brainwashed

It wasn't that long ago..

http://www.cnn.com./2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/09/27/clinton.surplus/

[wysimdnwyg]

6. Thanks all, but I need more

This guy is unbelievable. He's claiming the $230B surplus was a preliminary estimate, and it was actually a $28B deficit.

[KAZ]

7. With friends like this...

http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=1821&sequence=0#table1

[wysimdnwyg]

9. That's great!

One question, though. What was Clinton's last budget, 2000 or 2001?

[wadestock]

8. Some Facts

With Bush we get the worse of both worlds....Reaganomics revisited on top of an incompetent fool.

The size of federal workforce has increased substantially under President Bush. Since President Bush took office, the federal government's domestic civilian workforce has increased by more than 79,000 jobs, nearly a 5 percent increase. Specific changes which have been endorced under the Bush adminstration have also led to an unprecedented conversion to higher grades. The number of government workers paid at least $130,000 annually has tripled.

Clinton implemented effective policies to downsize the federal workforce with corresponding strategies to develop a well equipped and more efficient volunteer Army. Under Bush, the federal workforce has expanded and become more top heavy. Under George W. Bush, 80,000 new government employees where added in one year alone. Every single state recorded an increase.

The explosion of federal spending:
The second Bush administration has increased discretionary domestic spending by more than 8 percent. This coupled with tax breaks exceeding levels even under Ronald Reagan have fueled the greatest deficit in the history of the country. (now 7 Trillion dollars and counting)

What does the TOTAL deficit mean to you and me?
Last year it was 15 cents on every tax dollar.
This year it could be 18 cents on every tax dollar.

Imagine in the future, with continued tax breaks under bush and paying 25 cents on each tax dollar towards interest on the debt.

A family paying about 10,000/year on taxes thus pays $2,500, year after year after year.
Enough to send several kids to college and more.