Reagan Raised Taxes and Spending More Than Obama

Under President Obama, government jobs have disappeared, particularly at the state and local levels.  The unemployment rate would probably be lower than 7% if government jobs now kept pace with the number of government jobs as a share of the entire economy from the Ronald Reagan Presidency.   There would be 1.3 million more government workers in teaching, responding to emergencies, and keeping our streets safe, among other things.  Increasing government spending that raises the National Debt during an economic crisis, often referred to as Keynesian economics, is what historically brings about a full recovery that eventually balances the Federal Budget to pay down the National Debt.  Republicans have referred to Obama as someone who harbors socialist ideas, such as huge government spending, raising taxes, and stifling businesses with regulations.  Ironically, Reagan is much more Keynesian than current Republican political idol, Ronald Reagan, whom conservatives adore for his small government and lower taxes rhetoric.  State and local governments, under Reagan, invested in education and infrastructure to support a growing population.  Also, Reagan boosted military spending to deal with foreign security threats.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/opinion/krugman-states-of-depression.html?_r=1

George W. Bush Not Mentioned in GOP Debates (1/20/12)

The GOP Debates have featured its eccentric candidates, American flags, and moderators unable to sway the Presidential contenders away from Republican ideology. George W. Bush, the last Republican President, is something they do not want to talk about, even as he is now three years removed from an eight-year tenure. President Obama got mentioned 560 times in the 16 debates so far, but Bush only came up 56 times. They have brought up Ronald Reagan 221 times, even though it is now over 20 years after his term as President and seven since his passing. Perhaps, Republicans are ashamed and embarrassed by Bush. Or they want to blame everything on Obama. After all, it was Bush who ran up much of the National Debt with the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The biggest factor in the budget deficits and rise in the National Debt has been his tax cuts for the wealthy, with indifference to reforming the tax code to eliminate loopholes. These tax cuts have proved difficult for Obama to end. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/george-w-bush-in-the-gop-debates-a-taboo-topic/2012/01/19/gIQAmG0vBQ_blog.html

If Top 1% Had Not Ripped Off Trillions, You Would Be Making Thousands More Now (for 12/6/11)

In 1947, the wealthiest 1% of Americans received almost 12% of national income. This figure fell to 10.7% by 1967. The wealthiest 1%'s share of America's income never topped 12.8% from 1949 to 1979, and stood at 10% when Americans voted Ronald Reagan President of the U.S. in 1980. This rose to 15.5% when he finished his term in Office and rose to 21.5% when George W. Bush became President in 2001. It rose further to 23.5% in 2007. This means the bottom 99% of Americans have seen their share of America's economic output fall by over 10%. Annually, this equals $1 trillion in extra income for the wealthiest Americans. Since 1980, if trends based on productivity for the middle class held form to today, they would be making an average of $12,500 more per year.
http://www.alternet.org/story/152621/if_top_1_hadn't_ripped_off_trillions,_you'd_likely_be_making_thousands_of_dollars_