[FreeReign]

Discretionary, non-DOD spending as a percentage of GDP for Reagan's first two years was 3.9% and and 3.8%. For Bush, for his first two years, it was 3.5% and 3.6%.

Since this is not a contradiction of my final reply...

The above has been my point from my first post. It contradicted your CATO chart. But since it is not a contradiction to your last reply, then logically you agree with my first post.

[AntiGuv]

Sure I agree with that. I will repeat again the following which is the last I have to say on the matter:

1) Reagan inherited a much higher level of nondefense discretionary spending as percentage of GDP than did Bush (4.5% versus 3.2% ... 40% higher).

2) Reagan immediately cut nondefense discretionary spending as percentage of GDP by 4% in his very first budget, and slashed it by 22% in his first term. Bush immediately hiked nondefense discretionary spending by 9% in his very first budget, and by 26%+ in his first term.

3) You ignore the third and fourth budgets when the nondefense discretionary spending of Reagan's first term fell to 3.5% of GDP in both budgets. Nondefense discretionary spending as percentage of GDP increased to 3.9% and then to 4.1% under Bush's budgets (the latter figure will be higher).

4) You are becoming ridiculous. Please leave me alone.