Charts: What if Obama spent like Reagan?

[mostlyconfused]

13. So is your suggestion that we go back to spending 33-35% of GDP?

..like was happening under Reagan, instead of the higher rate we are spending now? I get your point about the economic impact of increased spending, but the problem is that the spending just doesn't come down again. During Obama's first term government spending was more like 40% of GDP.

If spending increases were temporary, with the intent to stimulate the economy, then once growth is achieved it seems like spending should come down. If the trend is that spending as a percentage of GDP generally just keeps going up and up (with a few variations), then what do we do? It's like the economy is an addict, and keeps needing a heavier hit government money to be stimulated. Does that course ever reverse, or in a decade will it take a bump to 45% of GDP to stimulate the economy?