re: Is America better off since the Tea Party formed?

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The debt to GDP ratio has been going down since the post-2008 spike caused by the recession. Further, the growth of federal spending has slowed since Obama took office. It exploded under Bush, especially in his last 2 years in office

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This is correct. I had an Econ professor debunk the entire "family budget" thing that was spreading like the plague through facebook and twitter.

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It's caused by a lot of factors, including paying for 2 wars and the Bush tax cuts

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Bush's last 2 years in office are to blame for much of the issues we face today. It's unfortunate, and I feel idiotic for voting for him...twice.

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but the Tea Party is too busy demonizing the less fortunate on welfare to see the forest for the trees.

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Correct. While there are MANY who abuse the system, there are also many who genuinely need it. But it is now being portrayed as the only people who use welfare, foodstamps, etc.. are African Americans who sit at home all day popping out babies and playing on their Obamaphone. This is not the case in all cases and it's a shame that the Tea Party has managed to shift the conservative mindset to this line of thinking.