cSc61 Loc: Austin

I've noticed a lot of back and forth in these blogs as to who is more to blame for the state of our economy - Republicans or Democrats.

I don't intend to answer that question definitively, there is certainly enough blame to go around for everyone. But I thought I'd share some interesting facts on the significance of the balance of power over the last 70 years.

In the last 70 years, since the end of WWII in 1945, Republicans have controlled of all 3 branches of government exactly twice - a total of four years in 70 (2003-06). During this 70-year period Republicans never held a super majority in the Senate (60 seats or more).

Democrats on the other hand held court exactly 11 times - a total of 22 years in 70. Seven of those 11 times Democrats held a super majority in the Senate and were able to completely dismiss the entire Republican Senatorial e*****rate.

It's hard to imagine Republicans have been able to do the lion's share of damage in just 4 years controlling just 2 separate Congresses. Just an observation ...

By the way, care to guess when the Democrats held their super majorities? It was during the Johnson administration and The Great Society. An administration that brought us Medicare, Chain Migration, and the War on Poverty just to name a few.

Interesting Side Note: According to most recent estimates, Americans have spent nearly $15 Trillion (that's Trillion with a T) on the War on Poverty since 1965. Clearly poverty is winning. In 2012 alone, the federal government spent $668 billion to fund 126 separate anti-poverty programs. State and local governments kicked in another $284 billion, bringing total anti-poverty spending to nearly $1 trillion. That amounts to $20,610 for every poor person in America, or $61,830 per poor family of three.

Trooper745 Loc: Carolina

BUT, the democrats will tell you, ... if they could just get the Republicans to help force the taxpayers to pony up just a few billion more, .... poverty could be cured. At least that's the rhetoric that they use to keep the poor v****g for democrats.

In t***h, LBJ knew he was buying the v**es of the chronically poor for the democrat party, while keeping the welfare addicted poor, and their progeny, in the grips of poverty forever into the future.

cSc61 Loc: Austin

I agree with your comments about LBJ. But keeping the poor poor was never enough. He needed to ensure a steady growth of lower income immigrants flooding in to the United States. Look up the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 - also referred to as the Hart-Cellar Act. It was championed in the Senate by the Liberal Lion Ted Kennedy and approved by the Democratic super majority. It has allowed for an endless stream of foreign nationals into the country for 50 years - the majority of whom v**e democrat. Now Obama is trying to beef it up with the so-called Dream Act. It never ends with these people.

missinglink Loc: Tralfamadore

Good post. The blame game is offered here on opp and I believe you would be a winner.

Airforceone

And the Bush Tax cuts cost is $6.6 trillion alone in 10 years 2 wars at $2.7 trillion. We have spent 8.8 trillion on defense in the last 10 years and clearly the rest of the world is winning. An additional $1.4 trillion for wounded vets in two wars over the last 10 years . Now let's add in the lost revenue due to tax loopholes can't even come close to figuring out that cost.

Airforceone

When was the last time you checked the poverty rate it's going down. Poverty rate sky rocketed with the Great Recession caused by Bush but it is going down since 2012 and if the min wage had got passed in 2010 it would be even lower.

Loki Loc: Georgia

The Bush tax cuts? OH YEAH! Those tax cuts! The ones that Obama renewed when he had control of both the House and the Senate. Of course, they are all the GOPTPBushKochBrothersFoxNews fault.

Now, let's see, turdnest, who was sworn in as president on Jan 20, 2009? Was it Bush? Who had control of both the House and the Senate from 1/20/09 until 1/20/11, when those tax cuts were made permanent? Bush again? Was I right? Was I? Was I?
Now, tell me again about those temporary tax cuts of Bush, that Obama made permanent when he had control of both the House and Senate. Tell us all one more time how it is all the fault of Bush/GOPTP/KochBrothers/Fox News.
We are waiting, snookums.

Douglas Graham Loc: The Mountains

If you were in charge, we'd all be wearing rags on our heads. Almost time for a holy war,damn the jihadists!