RateItAll: The Opinion Network

Both the Democrats and the GOP spend big. They are equally desireous of expanding government and increasing their (politician's) importance in American society. Only the lip service differs. The Republicans talk about limited government but such rhetoric is not consistent with the expansion of federal agencies we have seen, particularly since 9-11.

Between democrats and republicans, the similarities are profound. Running deficits or surpluses is not necessarily related to controlling spending, a lot goes into the net excess of expenditures over revenues. Saying that "right wing regimes" (whatever that is) produced deficits attributes a great deal of discretion to the Oval Office when the keeper of the checkbook is Congress.

Between "left and right" it's a bit more distinct. Liberals cannot reduce spending. Period. Bill Clinton did not. Conservatives (unlike the majority of republicans who make up today's congressional majority) prefer a limited role of government and usually manifest that through cutting spending programs. Remember? Taking the food out of the mouths of children? Making seniors eat dog food instead of buying their prescriptions? All because of republican cuts in spending? Remember? Usually, the cuts represented a reduction in the percentage of increase.

It is true that Clinton produced surpluses and that 2 fairly right of center presidents ran up deficits.It is also true that in both cases that was a result of defense/military spending by both of the right wing types.It is also true that Clinton gutted military/defense spending and we paid a large price on 9/11.Also true is that W's record on domestic spending and fiscal discipline frankly stinks.

Another bad example. The largest deficits in history were under the two most right wing regimes. Clinton produced surpluses.