Democrats vs. the GOP: Do the Math

[goju]

Not surprising, but nice to see it laid out in no uncertain terms. Spread this around..


"It turns out that Democratic presidents have a much better record than Republicans. They win in a head-to-head comparison in almost every category. Real growth averaged 4.09% in Democratic years, 2.75% in Republican years. Unemployment was 6.44%, on average, under Republican presidents, and 5.33% under Democrats. The federal government spent more under Republicans than Democrats (20.87% of GDP, compared with 19.58%), and that remains true even if you exclude defense (13.76% for the Democrats, 14.97% for the Republicans).

What else? Inflation was lower under Democratic presidents (3.81% on average, compared with 4.85%). And annual deficits took more than twice as much of GDP under Republicans than Democrats (2.74% of GDP versus 1.21%). Republicans won by a nose on government revenue (i.e., taxes), taking 18.12% of GDP, compared with 18.39%. That, of course, is why they lost on the size of the deficit."






http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kinsley1aug01,1,2283572.column?coll=la-util-op-ed

[yardwork]

1. I keep telling people this, but it is difficult to get them to listen.

The BIG BIG lie, that goes back all the way to the 1960s (when GHW Bush entered the national scene, incidentally) is that Republicans know how to handle the math better than Democrats.

Even I used to believe this. I would just say that I supported taxing and spending if that is what it took to take care of people.

Well, it turns out that the Democrats are better at the math as well! It turns out that the moral and decent thing to do is also the economically sensible thing to do.

It turns out that the whole basis of our government - people living in freedom allowed to do and say what they want - works well on all levels.

[ixion]

2. this is the REAL story... and one that should be front page news

everywhere... I mean, its no big shock to those of us who pay attention, but the 'average' news viewer should be hearing about this, and 'pundits' shouldn't be allowed to slander 'liberals' with their tax and spend bull puckey.