It seems to me that Reagan had huge and mounting deficits from his Dem Congress. Bush has consistently cut deficits that appeared early, and they will soon disappear. Spending increases come largley from entitlements that have escalators that make them grow on their own.
No doubt and it's just going to get worse. How many of you folk out there collecting Social Security will give up you your next couple of increase for the "good of the nation"? Bush did try to address the SS issue with private accounts but Republicans and Democrats alike ran away from the issue. And young people were too mired in Bush-hatred to realize what was being offered.