[Arles]

Originally Posted by Daimyo

I don't think history bears out that Democrats are the ones who have massively increased the debt. Other than maybe a few short years between the "Contract with America" and Lewinski, Republicans in power haven't really been fiscally conservative in my lifetime (I'm 30). If Democrats have been about "tax-and-spend" policies, I think its fair to say Republicans have been about "borrow-and-spend" policies. There really hasn't been a difference in the level of spending.

That's why I said "both". The only thing that holds spending is gridlock. My perfect situation is a republican house and democratic senate with either party in power (although a fiscal conservative would be best).

BTW, I forget to give my reference on Obama's investments:

How tax-friendly Obama cuts his own
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama would raise taxes on the rich, but as an investor, he seems eager to cut his own.

By Tim Middleton

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wants to raises taxes on the wealthy, but as a member of that social class, he isn't eager to fall victim himself. He has invested at least $1 million in a fund that yields tax-free income.

The Illinois senator's latest campaign-finance disclosure shows that his investments have nearly tripled in the past two years to as much as $7.4 million, and his income in 2007 surged past $4 million, not counting his government salary.

Obama reported accounts with Morgan Chase Private Client Asset Management, an elite firm that deals only with the rich, as well as a host of retirement accounts, some in the name of his wife, Michelle.

Because the required disclosure forms allow candidates to report their assets in ranges, such as $250,001 to $500,000, Obama's net worth at the end of 2007 -- not including his home and other nonfinancial assets -- was pegged between $2,022,016 and $7,356,000.

Tax-free income
By far the largest account, valued between $1 million and $5 million, was in the Northern Municipal Money Market Fund. It generated tax-free interest in 2007 of between $15,001 and $50,000.

Northern Trust "has built a well-deserved reputation around being the banker for the überrich," says Andrew Richards, a Morningstar equity analyst. In a report on the Chicago company's stock, he writes, "The firm estimates it serves roughly 20% of the richest families profiled annually in the Forbes 400."

Obama certainly doesn't fall into that category, but he does fit into the top 1% of federal income-tax payers. According to the Tax Foundation, this group accounts for 21% of total adjusted gross income nationwide but pays 39% of all individual federal income taxes.

As of 2005, the latest data available, the cutoff for the top 1% was adjusted gross income of $364,657. The cutoff for the top 5% was $145,283.

How tax-boosting Obama cuts his own - MSN Money