“That's what a Congressman or a Senator is for -- to see that too much money don't accumulate in the national Treasury.”

too true, too true

Clinton turned it around though with budget surpluses. There is one thing worse than a government that is in debt and owes everybody money. That is a government that owns everything: aka Communism.

Let's not forget that budgets are set by Congress not the President. And those so-called budget surpluses during Clinton were not surpluses at all -- every dime in the 'surplus' had already been borrowed at interest from the Fed. In other words, Congress borrowed more money than they needed. Actually the economy 'needed' that extra money to be created by the Fed, so the government borrowed it into circulation. So why not put it back and reduce the deficit? Oh, no, it got spent, don't you doubt it -- on stuff we really didn't need. Let's see a balanced budget amendment passed (both parties promise it, but neither does it).

It's funny but I believe we should be wary of cynicism. We live in a very cynical time and should focus on ways in which things can improve.

E. under Clinton the graph of the national debt which was on a steady uphill climb took a nose dive. The extra money (surplus) brought in was used to retire the pre-existing debt.

Waffler, LOL! Believe what you want. The Fed controls the US, not Clinton, Bush, or the Congress. Fact is, the 'surplus' was not returned. Creative accounting and refinancing with the Fed merely made it look like Congress did something -- but they spent like crazy as always, and didn't return the extra surplus to the Fed. Where did that money go anyway, huh? "When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic." -- Benjamin Frankin

The surplus was simply projected by Clinton and company. It was no more than propaganda. Like the last 2 years of Clinton's so called "good economy" it was no more than creative book keeping.

Agree with 'Mike, Norwalk' about 20,000,000,000,000 times !

A typical government worker !!! spennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd !