Mace,
"wo ways to increase a deficit. Increase spending or reduce taxes."
Reductions in taxes are often followed by increases in revenue, as the economic growth they have a part in encouraging results in increased tax revenue despite lower tax rates. Everybody wins.
"Bush increased spending (both on a relative and absolute scale)"
Relative to Obama? Nope. On an absolute scale? Yeah, of course he did. He was a big government progressive goon. But Obama increased spending more, relatively, absolutely, and positively.
" He managed this big [mess] up even during an economic boom running fiscal policy contrary to counter-cyclical logic."
"counter-cyclical" logic? You know nothing about economics, stop embarrassing yourself. Our crash was the result of corrupt government practices, not some sort of natural economic cycle. I shouldn't bother saying this much, because you obviously have absolutely no idea what you're talking about nor any idea of getting a clue.
Tax-cuts from our ridiculous levels down to our ridiculous levels aren't mess-ups. Stupid wards and spending obviously are. But regardless that Bush was an asshat, Obama still spent more.
"He tenure was the same unmitigated fiscal disaster as Labour's in the UK."
His part was no more the cause of the disaster than Democrats in Congress. Both parties took part in the crash. If you're suggesting that Obama didn't support the sub-prime Congressional bomb-making, so it's Bush's fault revenues decreased, that's just ignorant and stupid.
You can't discuss economics and disasters when you have literally no idea how anything works or how anything went wrong.
" In the UK the Conservatives have tried to cut structural deficit - but spending cuts have weakened other elements of the economy resulting in medium term reductions to tax revenue too."
Ohnoes! Free markets might improve all of our lives! QUICK! BACK TO LESS ECONOMIC FREEDOM! GOD FORBID WE LET FREE MARKETS WORK. Pansies like you are always afraid of anything but Communism. Consider ending it. Evolution requires failure to better the species. Don't worry, the strong will survive. Your weakness is not helpful. It's for the good of man. Step up.
"In the US Obama seems to have suggested schemes to increase public expenditure but hasn't been bold to raise the necessary tax increases - probably rationally think that tax revenues will rise naturally if his policies can goose employment. Except that the jobs haven't materialised."
Duuuhhhhhh. Communism means more money is wasted by government and less money rewards productivity and innovation in the free market? No wai! I had no idea. Never saw it coming.
His policies were primarily designed to pay off public sector labor unions' pension disaster. Wage increases were limited so their benefits were exploded. Now most localities can't pay for them or are approaching inability to pay for them. Obama's "stimulus" was mostly a way to delay this disaster. It was also a pay-off to idiot "greens"--I won't call them environmentalists, because those are respectable--who can't do basic math. It was just bribe money for votes. It was never intended to produce jobs.
Our taxes are already ridiculously high. The suggestion that our economy would be helped by higher taxes and more of the economy being federally directed is hilarious. Yeah, that's worked well everywhere it's been tried. And free markets have failed every time they were left to flourish. Oh, wait. I'm being facetious.
Okay, at least you're intentionally trolling. xeno actually believes in self-replicating robot alien technology which can do all labor for mankind being real. But nobody is dumb enough to be factually dead-wrong about Obama's spending (just look up the numbers, dumbass) and support this ignorance with a "well Communism might work better!" explanation.
Justinian I,
The suggestion that any power structure in federal government is legitimately interested in "equal opportunity and meritocracy" is cute. It's silly and nonsensical, but cute!
If you want freedom and meritocracy, stop pretending some government dipshit playing to your naive ignorance is your champion. It's free market or nothing. No government babysitter is going to fight for your freedom. Yes, I know he promised to be super awesome and love you and fight for your freedom. But he's lying. And you're a dolt.
Edit: FYI I think all of this nonsense is hysterical. 
Ignorance is sad, not funny. That's the point of this political informational. If your jokes reveal that you're a stupid, ignorant, jealous little man, they're not funny. That's not political humor.
[I wish I could obey forum rules]
