Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics

Thanks to W., we may need to invent a new category: Damn Lies about Statistics.

I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who thought, "Gee, that doesn't seem quite right..." upon hearing W. cite a growth of 1% for discretionary spending, especially since he said it was down from 15% when he took office. I mean, George, Tom Delay and the gang haven't struck me as more penny-pinching than, well, anyone I can think of.

Kevin Drum at the Washington Monthly has the scoop, and links to some other pointed commentary on Bush's spending from the Cato Institute, among others. He writes:

Here's the truth about non-defense discretionary spending over the past six administrations:

• Nixon/Ford: 6.8% per year
  
• Carter: 2.0% per year
  
• Reagan: -1.3% per year
  
• Bush 1: 4.0% per year
  
• Clinton: 2.5% per year
  
• Bush Jr: 8.2% per year

That's kind of what I thought; it's the profligate spending that makes the effect of the tax cuts so damaging. I mean, even with a recession, blowing through a nearly $6 trillion surplus to dig a $2 trillion hole is, well, "hard work."

While we're looking at the numbers, check out those "tax and spend" Democratic administrations? Hmmm....