I guess we give credit or blame to presidents, but Congress was controlled by the opposition party. Anyhow, the **** is complicated for sure, but the guiding principles shouldn't be. Freedom versus Intervention is the constant battle, I don't think anyone believes we can't have any federal intervention like Jefferson believed. So thank Hamilton for being a lightning rod for American growth, without those principals we all would likely being living half lifes and being put up wet and soar. I'm not saying that isn't an honest life, because I will be damned if it aint, but I'm grateful to not have to work like that, I like modern comforts and this expanded economy to an extent. Currently we are out of balance, but we could all make better choices and be put closer to balance, just stop buying stupid useless ****. burla end rant, sorry Smiley. Looking forward to my check hehe.
President Bill Clinton: Total = $63 billion surplus, a 1% decrease.
- FY 2001 - $128 billion surplus.
- FY 2000 - $236 billion surplus.
- FY 1999 - $126 billion surplus.
- FY 1998 - $69 billion surplus.
- FY 1997 - $22 billion.
- FY 1996 - $107 billion.
- FY 1995 - $164 billion.
- FY 1994 - $203 billion.
Surplus isnt always good, and out of control debt is very bad. When our debt goes out of balance with GDP, the cost of everything rises. Too much of it, and we are in soup lines. What stops soup lines? The fed. That is the good and bad of it. Too much national debt, future home ownership near impossible for the next generation, it's related.
When free market banks stop lending, the fed steps in and backs loans, otherwise during Obama years we would have been in another depression. You don't want the gov't to control production, which is why the gov't got it's hand out of the bailouts as fast as possible. Yes they intervened, but got out of those companies and got most of it back. I didn't prefer Obama, but that was one thing he got right.
