Krugman posted some worthwhile charts on this, but there’s basically two key elements to keep in mind.

The first is that spending rose as a percentage of GDP, not because of a spending binge, but because GDP went down so sharply during the Great Recession.

But what about the rest? There are safety-net programs — unemployment insurance, food stamps, SSI, refundable tax credits — that respond to help families in need during down times.

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There has NOT been a government spending binge – Topix