How can anyone look at the National Debt and try to portray the Republicans

[Bryan]

as being fiscally responsible? I keep seeing people trying to defend Republican spending, or blame it on the Democrats. I do not see how anyone can justify this. The National Debt has increase by roughly 3.6 trillion dollars in the last 7 years. During most of this time we have had a Republican controlled Congress and a Republican President. As a comparison from 1950 - 1999 the debt increase roughly 4.4 trillion. The debt increase almost by the same amount in 7 years as it did over the course of 49 years. Now the President has just submitted a 3.1 trillion dollar yearly budget. Given these numbers how can anyone defend the Republicans as being fiscally responsible?
Dont get me wrong people. I am not saying the Democrats are any more responsible than the Republicans. However, I keep seeing these references to how the debt is not really the fault the of the Republicans because Democrats controlled Congress for most of the last 30 years. The problem is that the hard numbers do not support this conclusion.
CuriousJ: I understand GDP and infaltionary adjustments just fine. The amount is not really what I am taking issue with. As for your 50 dollar ideal. No even close. Currently it is estimated that each citizen would have to be responsible for roughly 30 thousand to pay down the debt.

[Dan H majicman medican]

And now they want to run our banks because of the scandal the taxpayer bailout someone knew this was going on !They are on arunaway train for domination!!!!!

[tnfarmgirl]

I don't know about you- but I don't see a whole lot of fiscal responsibility on either side in Washington.

http://www.taxpayer.net/

End the earmarks and get some common sense back into government.

[stunna3m]

Great question; it's one that every single politician in Washington needs to answer. Republicans tend to lower taxes and spend on the military, to where as democrats would rather raise taxes and spend domestically. Either way the spending is usually done irresponsibly. Never the less, fiscal responsibility means not spending more than you make, I wish Washington and voters would realize that before it's to late.

[Forget War Buy More]

Lol, because Republicans say they cut taxes and Democrats say they raise it. It's really weird.

[Teekno]

Congress, in general, is fiscally irresponsible. And so are many presidents. Spending is a problem that crosses both party lines.

I mean, it's really hard to say what party spends more. Yes, the last time we had a balanced budget was under a Democratic President -- but it was with a Republican Congress.

[Sithlord78]

Republicans are only superficially fiscally responsible. As long as they have a bleeding heart liberal to blame for spending on "public welfare" they discretely shell out the big bucks for "corporate welfare".

The problem is that we have the foxes guarding the hen-house. There is no accountability. The worst part is that honestly, we really don't care enough to "LOOK" into what gets spent. Do we really have the time to? Maybe, but do you really know where your tax dollars are going? We need someone to literally spell it out to us in some type of annual report. Maybe it's already being done, but I have no idea of where to get it.

[Bleh!]

Because the dems control the purse strings not the republicans. Put the credit where the credit is due.

[Englanda]

The words 'Republican' and 'Responsible' do not belong in the same sentence.

[TyranusXX]

Who is defending anyone? I think the point should be made that (d) talk about fiscal responsibility but then all they talk about is spending more on government. Its like a thief telling someone they shouldn't steal. They just can't be taken serious