In 1986, that same Congress enacted the next largest peace time tax increase. There are at least two important reasons. It's great to want to help people, but our Constitution does not authorize Congress to do so. Their spending authority is itemized in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. We cannot lay the entire blame, not even an important share of it at the feet of Congress.
American people are to blame for our fiscal mess.
Any congressman who'd respect, heed and obey the letter and spirit of the Constitution would not get our votes. Our hero is the congressman who exhibits the deepest contempt for the limitations of the Constitution's Article I, Section 8. Maybe I'm being too harsh. Maybe my fellow Americans think Congress is authorized to do anything that's wonderful. Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislatures, and enforced in courts of justice.