The U.S. Deficit in a Nutshell

Tax cuts : pink about 30% of deficit ( Bush)

Stimulus: blue about 5% ( Obama)

Two wars: green 10% ( Bush)

Debt without above 3 policies is 35% due to bailouts and reduction of revenues due to

1. Great Recession brought on by Republican deregulation policies.

2. Costly Expansion of Medicare ( part D) by W to include drugs run by for-profit insurers and not allowing government to negotiate drug prices as in Canada where brand drugs are half of price in USA.

Source: Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/outlook/votes-that-pushed-us-into-the-red/