Where did the idea originate

[yankeeinlouisiana]

that Democrats are big spenders? It seems to me that the country/economy has been pretty good under a Democratic leadership? Is it that they spend too much or is it what the money is spent on that they don't like?

[jean]

1. Joe Conason may have that info in his book Big Lies

but I can't look it up for you since the book is now in the hands of one of my kid's friends who is fast becoming a very vocal activist.

[coloradodem2005]

2. It is believed...

...that the Republicans are the party of fiscal responsibility because they were 40 or 50 years ago. Reagan changed all that. But some are still attatched to the idea that the Republicans are still the financially responsible party and the Dems spend like drunken sailors even though the exact opposite is the case now.

[Catshrink]

3. Massive tax cuts have the same effect as increased spending...

And since that's what repugs do best -- for their buddies of course -- they are fiscally irresponsible.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

4. Thanks everyone!

I'm having a discussion with my RW cousin and she brought this up. I never did understand why it was perceived as such. I'll have to get Joe's book.

Thanks again!

:-)

[TreasonousBastard]

5. It's a lie, of course.

Democrats have spent far more on social, environemntal, etc., programs than Republicans, but have not really spent all that much more in total.

It's simply Republican code words for wasteful social spending and social engineering, regulation, and all of the other perceived ills of the left.

[question everything]

6. I think that it started with LBJ Great Society

of government programs aimed at helping people - especially the poor and the sick, the children and the elderly. I think that many programs for children like Head Start and ADC (I think) started that. Also medical assistance for the poor, food stamps, etc. RW, of course, would rather see the poor and the sick disappearing from the face of the earth. They especially did not like the assistance for "out of wedlock" children and their mothers, claiming that it promoted "promiscuity."

The reality, of course, is like any bureaucracy, many of these programs ended up to be ineptly run, or full of corruption and that how the "welfare queen" came around. Also, since high proportion of the people on public assistance were minority, it also ignited hidden bigotry.