Ask the wrong question and you usually get the wrong answer. And you imply that it is Bush who spent it. Congress spends the money. Not the President.

You assume there has to be higher spending. I don't... someone once said that giving the recent Congresses the power to tax and spend is like giving a teen the keys to the liquor cabinet and Corvette.. little good is going to come of it.

The Federal, state and local government have been using very fat pencils for the last few decades and now money is getting tight. Costs are up. Unless we want to discuss what 'is' is, we can't change the meaning of the word but there hasn't been a recession yet but if we continue, it appears there will be one and higher taxes when people's pockets are thin is not the answer.

But, I figure Congress will take the easy way out, spend more and tax more... expect new 'fees', expect old tax breaks to melt away and expect your wallet to get even thinner. AND that 401K and IRA you have been sitting on... you can expect within the next decade someone is going to say, "You know.. that Stratton guy has a lot of money and there are many unfortunate people who don't have money. Le'ts put a surcharge tax on that evil Mr. Stratton.. he don't need all that money."

Envy works every time. And like Willy Sutton said when asked why he robbed banks, "...because that's where the money is." And Hillary and Michelle have already said they are going to take from those who have and give to those who don't.

Sorry for the long answer...