Why do we borrow nation into debt?

The idea of borrowing our country into debt has always baffled me, and at times downright outraged me to no end. I am amazed at those who now write into this forum against the Obama administration's stimulus plan. How exactly how did we get into this mess? Our country's debt before Ronald Reagan took office was in the $1 trillion range. (Now let's see ... 204 years ... $1 trillion.) Reagan proceeded to add $2 trillion onto that debt in 8 years. We still have not paid that money back. With our current situation, we find ourselves in worst shape than even G.H.W. Bush could have imagined. For those of you who were not around then, GHW Bush called Reagan and his economic policies voodoo economics. Only after Reagan put him on his ticket, did GHW Bush quiet down. But he was right. He sold himself out for the chance to be VP and more. But in his behalf he did understand the implications of the voodoo policies and tried to right them in his term. It cost him a second term. But again, he was right Under Bill Clinton our country saw an unprecedented growth. And Bill did begin to pay down our debt and have a balanced budget. While there are those out there who say he was just a recipient of the times, they would be right. But at least he did not screw up the economics of our country, until the last vote in Congress before Clinton left office. OK, now we are in a bigger economic mess. While the unfettered borrowing has posed problematic it almost pales to the manipulations of our borrowing institutions.

Edward Tobolik

Roselle