Remember back in 1993 when Clinton wanted a huge stimulus bill.

[Winterblues]

Democrats had a substantial majority in Congress then as well. The Stimulus bill was defeated back then. Republican were in lock-step and in fact the term lock-step originated from that debate. Somehow even without the Stimulus bill America went on to experience historic economic growth.

[WI_DEM]

1. The situation wasn't nearly as dire in '93 as it is now, the big issue was the deficits.

[WCGreen]

2. I think lock step originated with the Nazi's...

I may be mistaken...

[rusty quoin]

3. How can you tell the difference between the two groups?

[WCGreen]

11. The guy who can't see leading the blind

[Winterblues]

4. I am sure you are correct but I was referring to US political terms.

It had not been quite so evident before the Clinton Administration.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. !9th century U.S. prisons, according to wiki.

Refers to the marching of a chain gang.

[leveymg]

5. Oh, an optimist! Sure you'll get rich buying foreclosed houses.

Things are seriously worse now than 1993. Seriously.

[HereSince1628]

6. While I appreciate the history lesson on GOP lock step opposition to stimulus bills

You aren't correct about the historic roots of the term.

You say: "in fact the term lock-step originated from that debate. " Nope. That just ain't right.


I claim nothing on origins of the term, but point out that the "lock-step" was the name of a type of dance during World War I.
I would, therefore, argue that the term originate way before the 1990s.

[Captain Hilts]

7. No we didn't have "substantial" majority. VERY slim and Dems LOST seats in '92. nt

[Winterblues]

8. I think the majority was actually bigger then than now

The House had 258 Democrats and 176 Republicans. The Senate had 57 Democrats and 43 Republicans. I call that a substantial Majority.

[Captain Hilts]

9. And the Dems were more conservative than they are now. The tide was shifting right. nt

[Hippo_Tron]

16. That's if you count Richard Shelby, Howell Heflin, Jim Exon, Sam Nunn, Ben Campbell as Democrats

1993's DINO's are far worse than today's.

[hfojvt]

10. it wasn't primarily a stimulus bill

it was "the largest tax increase in history" according to Republicans.

Also, it was NOT defeated. It passed the Senate by a vote of 51-50. Thus it became a "Democratic tax increase" and that, as well as Hillarycare, the Republicans campaigned on in 1994 and took control of the House.

However, the economy did pretty good, but it was doing okay before that too. The bill passed in August, but in 1993, the economy created this many jobs each month (January) 307,000; (Feb)237,000; (March lost jobs)(46,000); 307,000; 273,000; 164,000; 300,000; 159,000.

We would love to have those numbers today, except that probably woulda helped McCain in the election.

[Winterblues]

12. No you are referring to Clinton's Budget

It was a totally different Bill than the Stimulus package they wanted.

[hfojvt]

15. well if there was an earlier bill, his budget was called a stimulus

[Undercurrent]

14. .

As other posters have pointed out, times were very different in the '90s. The economy is in extreme peril now with the very real possibility that we will plunge deep into a depression.


btw:

Lock step:
Merriam-Webster:

Date: circa 1802

1 : a mode of marching in step by a body of persons going one after another as closely as possible 2 : a standard method or procedure that is mindlessly adhered to or that minimizes individuality
— in lockstep
: in perfect or rigid often mindless conformity or unison <politicians marching in lockstep with the party line>
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lock%20step