Yes, the Dems are now and always have been fiscal miscreants. More or less, they have functioned since the New Deal and Great Society on the predicate that Washington has first call on the incomes and wealth of the American people; and that federally directed redistribution for the purpose of vote-getting in the guise of social uplift and the public good is absolutely copacetic.

This posture is odious, of course, but at least the Dems tell one truth about their policies. Namely, they happily proclaim government is here to help you and that they are the pro-government party on the banks of the Potomac.

But what is absolutely not copacetic is the modern GOP's pretense of being the anti-government people's party. And most especially its consequent claim to being the tribune of relief from Big Government's crushing tax burdens and its roadblocks to economic growth, jobs, rising incomes and Main Street prosperity.

In the annals of American politics, a bigger lie has never been told. Ever since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, the GOP has claimed to be fighting Big Government by championing "tax cuts" in every way, shape and form on the grounds that cutting revenue and starving the "beast" is the politically smart way to shrink the girth of the state, reduce the Federal deficit, ignite economic growth and jobs and bring prosperity back to Main Street.

Alas, that's a monumental con job. Once again, Milton Friedman had it right when he said that the true tax rate of Big Government is represented by the spending share of GDP—regardless of whether it is financed by borrowing or taxing.

Unfortunately, however, ever since the GOP succumbed to the snake oil doctrines of Art Laffer in 1981—the notion that tax cuts will both pay for themselves with added growth and ultimately enable the nation to grow its way out of debt—the GOP has been utterly AWOL in the battle against spending.

As shown below, during the 45 years since 1980, the Federal spending share of GDP during GOP Administrations (Reagan, Bush the Elder, Bush the Younger and Trump 45 and 47) has averaged 20.8% of GDP (dotted red line). That amounts to the grand sum of 30 basis points less than the Dem administrations' average of 21.1% (dotted blue line).