Why do conservatives question the intelligence of the American people?

They point to growth under Reagan and Bush Jr as proof tax cuts (mostly for the rich) work but hope people don't look up the kind of growth we had under other presidents. The fact is every president since atleast FDR stepped out of office with the economy bigger then it was when he first stepped in.

Cons say tax cuts and growth is cause and effect, but when I point to even greater growth under Democratic presidents who shifted the tax burden to the rich and invested in the American people through education, job training, and temporary safety nets, they say "correlation does not imply causation."

HERE ARE SOME STATS COMPARING SUPPLY SIDE REPUBLICANS (REAGAN AND BUSH JR) VERSUS THE BIGGEST KEYNESIAN DEMOCRATS (FDR, JFK, LBJ, AND CLINTON)

1) Here are the percent increase in real GDP for various presidents:

FDR 177.51% (from 32' to 45')
FDR 88.14% (from 32' to 41', without WWII)
JFK/LBJ 46.00%
CLINTON 33.81%
REAGAN 30.63%
BUSH JR 16.55% (from 00' to 06')

http://www.bea.gov/national/xls/gdplev.x...

2) Here is the percent increase in inflation adjusted tax revenues:

FDR 447.54% (40' to 44', only data available)
CLINTON 57.91%
JFK/LBJ 37.63%
REAGAN 20.16%
BUSH JR 4.44% (assuming predictions up to 2008 hold)

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2...

Trying to promote a President based on broad economic statistics is misguided, whether its a Republican or a Democrat doing it.

The reality is, the President's effect on the economy is not that great. For one thing, he is only one part of the government...there is also Congress to consider, and the actions of state governments (which often have a more direct impact on economic activity than the Federal government).

Also, economic health and progress depends on a variety of factors. The development of technology, the discovery of new resources, conditions in other parts of the world, even the weather affect the economy. The President doesn't control any of those things.

Think of it this way...if a teleportation device was invented tomorrow, eliminating oil fuel resource and saving untold billions, should Bush get credit for the economic boom that would follow?

Long question, we just question the intelligence of liberals

You're trying to hard.

We don't, we watch the Democrats do it everyday when they rob social security to pay for one of there stupid ideas. You site alot of facts and I see and question some of your sources weather they be fanatics our the government, if you don't trust the government why are you riling on there facts?

okay, you need to leave yahoo answers and go to a mail order bride web site. you need a girl friend. first of all, i'm conservative, average intellegence, and not at all rich. why do liberals want the rich to pay all the taxes? the vast majority of the wealthy in this country got that way by working hard. they earned their money and they create jobs with their money. got to cuba, you'll fit in there.