Here's the real numbers.

Below are three graphs regarding historic Federal deficits (or surpluses).  The first shows annual federal deficits inconstant dollars going all the way back to 1940. What it shows is that over the last 70 years it has been Republican administrations that have presided over serious deficit spending not Democrats. Look especially at the Reagan/Bush/Bush years, what do you see?

But annual deficits don't tell the whole story. Deficits and debt in relation the total size of the whole economy (as measured by gross domestic product -- GDP) is important too.  The second graph shows our total Federal debt at the end of each year in relation to GDP each year going back to 1940 again.  Note that our debt went up in WWII (not surprisingly) and then declined under every President until Ronald Reagan took office.  It went back up until Clinton took office, then declined while he was there only to start rising again under George W Bush.

The third graph shows annual deficits in relation to GDP. Once again the same pattern is evident.

So as Republicans take their shots at the Obama administration while  they're struggling to cope with the wreckage left behind by George Bush, Steve Chabot, John Boehner, Newt Gingrich, Ronald Reagan and all their other good buddies, as the effects of deregulation have now become graphic for all to see, remember how we got here.  Maybe this will prove useful to you in conversation as Republicans do their best to re-write history and wash their hands of the mess they've created.

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