--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, when Republicans were in…" description: "\"You know, when Republicans were in charge, we doubled the debt. But, now, our concern is the Democrats are in charge and they're tripling the debt. So,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/rand-paul-606_concern_you-know-when-republicans-were-in-charge_2486086.jpg" --- # You know, when Republicans were in charge, we doubled the… ![“You know, when Republicans were in charge, we doubled the debt. But, now, our concern is the Democrats are in charge and they're tripling the debt. So, really, our concern is that we want smaller government.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/rand-paul-606_concern_you-know-when-republicans-were-in-charge_2486086.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/rand-paul-606_concern_you-know-when-republicans-were-in-charge_2486086.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b6/rand-paul-606_concern_you-know-when-republicans-were-in-charge_2486086.jpg) > “You know, when Republicans were in charge, we doubled the debt. But, now, our concern is the Democrats are in charge and they're tripling the debt. So, really, our concern is that we want smaller government.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker contrasts past and present fiscal policies, arguing that both parties increase debt, highlighting a desire for smaller government. **In simple terms:** Both parties raise debt; the speaker wants less government. Key Takeaway Advocate for limited government and fiscal responsibility. Themes government fiscal policy politics accountability Mood critical skeptical Type political analytical When to use this quote - budget discussions - policy debates - voter education Key Concepts budget deficits party comparison tax policy Questions to Reflect On - How do party platforms truly affect debt? - What policies could reduce government size? A Different Perspective The claim oversimplifies complex economic factors and ignores external influences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrats/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans/) [Smaller government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smaller-government/) ## Related quotes > [The debt austerity would not be problems if we had technological progress. If you doubled the debt in the U.S., and the size of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-thiel/the-debt-austerity-would-not-be-problems-if-we-had-technological/) [Peter Thiel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-thiel/) > [Our nation's debt has to be a concern for us all. It is not sustainable long-term.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-harrison/our-nation-s-debt-has-to-be-a-concern-for-us-all-it-is-not/) [Jaime Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-harrison/) > [The Republicans cry for smaller government; however, it seems that at every turn, they work at interfering with the lives of Americans, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/the-republicans-cry-for-smaller-government-however-it-seems-that-at/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [Smaller government, more individual responsibility, more individual control creates more Republicans. More state power and ownership and control and top-down decision-making creates more Democrats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/smaller-government-more-individual-responsibility-more-individual/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [“Isn't smaller government just an argument used to increase corporate power?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-akadjian/isn-t-smaller-government-just-an-argument-used-to-increase-corporate/) [David Akadjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-akadjian/) > [I stated that I'm a libertarian Republican, which means I believe in a series of issues, such as smaller government, constraint on budget deficits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-stated-that-i-m-a-libertarian-republican-which-means-i-believe-in-a/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [The Republican establishment cringe at the very discussion of social issues. They are in favor of big government for the most part. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-republican-establishment-cringe-at-the-very-discussion-of-social/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Conservatives believe in smaller government and in the power of the electorate. So I think that we're less likely to try to use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/conservatives-believe-in-smaller-government-and-in-the-power-of-the/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [One side of the American psyche wants smaller government, lower taxes, and more choices for individuals, even if those choices increase risk. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/one-side-of-the-american-psyche-wants-smaller-government-lower-taxes/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [Our connection to faith and church and that background sort of lent itself in our views to the Republican Party and our views on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-cameron/our-connection-to-faith-and-church-and-that-background-sort-of-lent/) [Daniel Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-cameron/) > [On economic policy, my support of smaller government, lower taxes and economic reform is consistent with the mainstream of the Republican Party in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard/on-economic-policy-my-support-of-smaller-government-lower-taxes-and/) [John Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard/) > [My philosophy is not a bean-counting, accounting 'look at this.' It is a philosophy that smaller government is better government, and government that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/my-philosophy-is-not-a-bean-counting-accounting-look-at-this-it-is-a/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) > [Conservatives want smaller government. They want to focus on market-based solutions wherever one can. They want to have as little regulation as possible. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-ornstein/conservatives-want-smaller-government-they-want-to-focus-on-market/) Norman Ornstein > [ We must create a \[economic\] crisis in order to ensure that there is no alternative to a smaller government. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeb-bush/we-must-create-a-economic-crisis-in-order-to-ensure-that-there-is-no/) [Jeb Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeb-bush/) > [If you are for smaller government, then our candidate is for you. We are for better government and smaller government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-clinton/if-you-are-for-smaller-government-then-our-candidate-is-for-you-we/) [Bill Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-clinton/) ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More Concern quotes > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I'm a vegetarian - I think there's a strong possibility, had I not become a vegetarian, I would not be working now. I became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-barker/i-m-a-vegetarian-i-think-there-s-a-strong-possibility-had-i-not/) [Bob Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-barker/) > [What really concerns me is for Christians to understand the fundamentals of evangelism in a way that is helpful in the contemporary scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/what-really-concerns-me-is-for-christians-to-understand-the/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [It concerns me when people frame the conversation about equal pay about the entertainment business. I don't want the wage gap issue to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-arquette/it-concerns-me-when-people-frame-the-conversation-about-equal-pay/) [Patricia Arquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-arquette/) > [The Patriot Act is certainly a concern; all of those things are dangerous. I think more important than me preaching is that we as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/the-patriot-act-is-certainly-a-concern-all-of-those-things-are/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other's well-being, is source of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/more-compassionate-mind-more-sense-of-concern-for-other-s-well-being/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When I was in my teens I had a series of intensely religious experiences. They deepened my sense of God as the creator of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/when-i-was-in-my-teens-i-had-a-series-of-intensely-religious/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [ I just have to deal with it \[injuries\] if and when problems happen. It's obviously a concern and I've been very careful with my… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-james/i-just-have-to-deal-with-it-injuries-if-and-when-problems-happen-it-s/) [Greg James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-james/) > [Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/much-has-been-said-and-continues-to-be-said-of-what-little-concern/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) Browse all 3,297 Concern quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, when Republicans were in charge, we doubled the debt. But, now, our concern is the Democrats are in charge and they're tripling the debt. 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