#3 - Bush wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2010 our total trade with the the 17 countries with which we had 'free-trade' agreements (not including Panama, Columbia and South Korea which joined last year) was $1.115 trillion. We had a trade deficit of $71.1 billion (6.5% of the total) with them. Exports were 47% and imports were 53% of the total.

In 2010 our total trade with the rest of the world was $2.108 trillion. We had a deficit of $574.8 billion (27.2% of the total). Exports were 36.5% and imports were 63.5%.

In 2010 the amount of our trade with non-'free trade' countries ($2.1 trillion) was about twice as large as with 'free trade' countries ($1.1 trillion), but our trade deficit ($575 billion vs. $71 billion) was 8 times larger with non-'free trade' countries.

The figures for 2011 are about the same but I don't have them with me.

Our trade deficit with non-"free trade" countries is much larger both in absolute and percentage terms. It makes no sense to want to preserve the status quo with those countries.

1921-1928 - Republican era with high tariffs (1921 & 1922) and restrictive immigration laws (1921 & 1924):

The average incomes in the us grew by $4,764;
Richest 10% got 64% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 36%.

1933-1952 - Democratic era (FDR and Truman):

Average incomes in the US grew by $15,246;
Richest 10% got 24% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 76%.

1961-1969 - Democratic era (JFK and LBJ)

Average incomes in the US grew by $9,949;
Richest 10% got 33% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 67%.

1981-1992 - Republican era (Reagan and Bush I)

Average incomes in the US grew by $3,017;
All the growth went to the richest 10%;
Income for the bottom 90% declined.

1993 - 2000 - Democratic era (Clinton)

Average incomes in the US grew by $14,082;
Richest 10% got 70% of that growth;
The bottom 90% shared 30%.

2001 - 2008 - Republican era (Bush II)

Average incomes in the US fell by $432;
The average income of the richest 10% grew;
For the bottom 90% the average income fell.

That is a wonderful and very useful graph. It certainly shows the consequences of republican policies vs Democratic ones.