Politicians have long been overspending

Michael K. Casler, Las Vegas

Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 | 2:02 a.m.

I’ve pointed out many times that both of our major parties are responsible for the financial mess we are in. Supporters of Democrats and Republicans disagree. Here’s why they are wrong:

The debt limit had been routinely raised many times over the past 50 years and more. Why is that? Because our government almost always spends more than it brings in and has to borrow to make up the difference.

This did not start under President George W. Bush, as Democrats would have you believe, nor is it something that can be blamed only on President Barack Obama, as Republicans would have you believe. That’s bunk by both parties.

Over the past 50 years and more, our presidents and our congresses have made a habit of not being fiscally responsible, not having a balanced budget, constantly borrowing and constantly raising how much we can borrow. It’s not all on Bush. It’s not all on Obama. It’s both our parties and all those we have elected in the past and those in office now. We can thank all of them for our $14.3 trillion deficit.

Meanwhile, our Democratic and Republican representatives reached a deal this past week to raise the debt ceiling. It’s an awful deal. Spending will continue to rise and we will continue to borrow and print money. There are no tax increases, no reworking of the tax system and, compared to the current debt and deficit, what cuts there are will be woefully inadequate. In addition, the people in Congress are going to offload the tough work of coming up with real cuts in spending, modifying the tax code and raising more revenue to a “committee.”

How can we keep sending these people back to represent us over and over. When is enough, enough?