[quote=SK in CV]After the explosion it was flat compared to the explosion year. But the increase from FY 2008 through FY 2015 includes the last pre-explosion year. At least that’s what I think I figured. If I remember correctly what I looked at, the pre-explosion year compared to the 1st year with a significant increase was around 27% higher over a 7 year period.

Corrected. Total outlays FY 2008 were $2,982B. Projected FY 2014 is $3,618B, increase of $636B or 21.32% of $2,982. Divided by 6 years is 3.55% average increase over the 6 year period.[/quote]

Actually, the explosion years for 2002-2007. Then in 2008, we just WFN.

From the 2000-’01 budget of $1.789 to the 2012-’13 budge of $3.803T, we’ve increased 6.5% a year.

If you look at the WFN year, the amount jumps to 8.8%.

As for historically, there’s a number of particulars that disrupt an average. i.e. WWII, the Korean War and Truman’s 1952 quadrupling of the defense budget, but largely they kept their budgets balanced keeping the surplus/deficit within 2% over the course of their term. Then the creep started with Kennedy, who over the first two years, cut short, hit 10%, Johnson reigned it back in to 5%, Nixon creeped (no pun intended) to 6%, Ford went off the rails to 16%), Carter, struggled it to 11%.

It was Reagan that lead us to the debt crack pipe of 19% of the budget.

Bush 1 continued the spending without the grand vision. Bill controlled spending growth (3% annual, ironically roughly inflation plus population growth) and reap the subsequent economy growth to balance the initial deficits.

Bush II, blundered through to war and subsequent Reaganesque debts then we WFN with 40% deficits. Replacing Eisenhower’s military industrial complex with the lobbyist security complex.