--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The deficit only became a big problem in…" description: "\"The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush years. For 12 years, Republican presidents talked about balancing the budget, but failed to pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg" --- # The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush… ![“The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush years. For 12 years, Republican presidents talked about balancing the budget, but failed to propose one.” quote by Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg) > “The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush years. For 12 years, Republican presidents talked about balancing the budget, but failed to propose one.” [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The budget deficit grew notably during the Reagan-Bush administrations, despite repeated promises to balance it. **In simple terms:** Deficit rose in 1990s despite promises Key Takeaway Recognize the gap between rhetoric and policy Themes economics politics fiscal responsibility Mood critical analytical Type political historical When to use this quote - government budgeting - public discourse - tax policy - spending reviews Key Concepts budget deficits political promises policy implementation Questions to Reflect On - What structural factors made balancing the budget difficult? - How can accountability be improved? A Different Perspective Political promises often ignore structural constraints ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidents/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) ## Related quotes > [I am not worried about the deficit. It is big enough to take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-am-not-worried-about-the-deficit-it-is-big-enough-to-take-care-of/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [What does the Right have to show for eight years of a Republican presidency? I supported George W. Bush in 2000 because I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-derbyshire/what-does-the-right-have-to-show-for-eight-years-of-a-republican/) [John Derbyshire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-derbyshire/) > [“During the previous eight years of Republican rule, this conservative corporate elite had consolidated its power, amassing enormous sway over the U.S. government’s regulatory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-mayer/during-the-previous-eight-years-of-republican-rule-this-conservative/) [Jane Mayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-mayer/) > [Well, dissent is the tradition in America, and I've been on the side of dissent a good bit of my career, particularly in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-doggett/well-dissent-is-the-tradition-in-america-and-i-ve-been-on-the-side-of/) Lloyd Doggett > [Michigan will be Democratic in some years and Republican in some years. I don't think we'll ever make the mistake like we did in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-whitmer/michigan-will-be-democratic-in-some-years-and-republican-in-some/) [Gretchen Whitmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-whitmer/) > [I was asked for years about being a Republican, probably because most black people are Democrats. My mother heard it once and called me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/i-was-asked-for-years-about-being-a-republican-probably-because-most/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [The damage done to U.S. prestige by the feckless, buffoonish George W. Bush will take years to repair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-damage-done-to-u-s-prestige-by-the-feckless-buffoonish-george-w/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [I covered the White House during the Bush years when Ari Fleischer, Scott McClellan and Dana Perino were at the podium. We thought those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-bash/i-covered-the-white-house-during-the-bush-years-when-ari-fleischer/) [Dana Bash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-bash/) > [When George W. Bush hit the campaign trail in 2000, the precious possession he brought with him from home was his personal feather pillow.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-brown/when-george-w-bush-hit-the-campaign-trail-in-2000-the-precious/) [Tina Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-brown/) > [I'm an Obama supporter. And if you're an Obama supporter that means you had a hard time during the Bush years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/i-m-an-obama-supporter-and-if-you-re-an-obama-supporter-that-means/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [ That particular story \["The Pyramid and the Ass"\] was written during the dark days of the Bush years. George W. Bush had just been… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-weinstein/that-particular-story-the-pyramid-and-the-ass-was-written-during-the/) [Alexander Weinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-weinstein/) > [Take the veto. Bush is the first president since James Garfield in 1881 not to veto a single bill. Garfield only had six months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/take-the-veto-bush-is-the-first-president-since-james-garfield-in/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [It could fairly be said that America, during the Bush years, has entered an Age of Denial - arguably the first stage of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/it-could-fairly-be-said-that-america-during-the-bush-years-has/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [Unlike President Obama, Mitt Romney has been inside the bubble all his life. He has no idea what's going on here. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-stills/unlike-president-obama-mitt-romney-has-been-inside-the-bubble-all-his/) [Stephen Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-stills/) > [Probably we'll think of Bush in years to come as an American hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-franks/probably-we-ll-think-of-bush-in-years-to-come-as-an-american-hero/) [Tommy Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-franks/) ## More by Dick Gephardt > [One of the big mistakes Republicans made with the Contract with America is that they tried to do too much too fast, and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/one-of-the-big-mistakes-republicans-made-with-the-contract-with/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [If you want to run for president, you better be an athlete. It's 24/7. It never ends. You give up your personal life completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/if-you-want-to-run-for-president-you-better-be-an-athlete-it-s-24-7/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I was raised in a working class family of Baptist faith, and I went to college on a church scholarship where early teachings were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-was-raised-in-a-working-class-family-of-baptist-faith-and-i-went-to/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [In 1988, as an unknown candidate, totally unknown, I won Iowa, came in second in New Hampshire, won South Dakota. I was ahead in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/in-1988-as-an-unknown-candidate-totally-unknown-i-won-iowa-came-in/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I don't think you can be a good listener unless you're a good listener. I think it's something that you really have to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-don-t-think-you-can-be-a-good-listener-unless-you-re-a-good/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I grew up in a household that was a labor household. My dad was a Teamster and a milk truck driver. My mother was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-grew-up-in-a-household-that-was-a-labor-household-my-dad-was-a/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [You don't lock into a ten-year family budget. You take it a year at a time - maybe even six months at a time.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/you-don-t-lock-into-a-ten-year-family-budget-you-take-it-a-year-at-a/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [America is a great country. We are so wealthy. But our one remaining challenge is to fulfill the potential of all our people. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/america-is-a-great-country-we-are-so-wealthy-but-our-one-remaining/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I think a lot of people think I was born in a blue suit, on the David Brinkley show. And that isn't me. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-think-a-lot-of-people-think-i-was-born-in-a-blue-suit-on-the-david/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I think it's time we had a president who carried the same life experiences into the White House as most ordinary Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-think-it-s-time-we-had-a-president-who-carried-the-same-life/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [Our democracy if self-cleansing. If you don't like it, be a candidate, or support a candidate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/our-democracy-if-self-cleansing-if-you-don-t-like-it-be-a-candidate/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [Diplomacy matters. Burden-sharing matters. Follow-through matters. And yes, sustaining the peace is harder, more complex and often costlier than winning the war itself. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/diplomacy-matters-burden-sharing-matters-follow-through-matters-and/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [Politics is a substitute for violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/politics-is-a-substitute-for-violence/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I've always had good energy; I've always had good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-ve-always-had-good-energy-i-ve-always-had-good-health/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) > [I have been a long and strong supporter of civil rights in my whole career. I led the fight to get the voting rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/i-have-been-a-long-and-strong-supporter-of-civil-rights-in-my-whole/) [Dick Gephardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) [Explore all 58 Dick Gephardt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush years. For 12 years, Republican presidents talked about balancing the budget, but failed to propose one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dick Gephardt" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in-the-reagan-bush-years-for-12/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "About" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in-the-reagan-bush-years-for-12/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ed/dick-gephardt-11719_about_the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in_1135396.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The deficit only became a big problem in the Reagan-Bush years. For 12 years, Republican presidents talked…” — Dick Gephardt", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dick Gephardt", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-gephardt/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The deficit only became a big...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in-the-reagan-bush-years-for-12/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-gephardt/the-deficit-only-became-a-big-problem-in-the-reagan-bush-years-for-12/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```