Bush policies took about $3200 a year out of every tax payer pocket.

In a long overdue look at how the Bush administration took "surpluses as far as the eyes could see" and squandered it, David Cay Johnston shows us all how much better off we'd be today if we had just stayed on the Clinton policy track:

TRILLIONS LOST TO BUSH TAX CUTS COULD PAY ALL CAR, CREDIT, AND STUDENT DEBT: The Bush tax cuts, which were supposed to help lead to a more prosperous economy, have actually cost Americans as much as $6.6 trillion in personal income. 

David Cay Johnston wrote: "I calculated that enormous figure by comparing the average income Americans reported on their 2000 tax returns with what they reported each year for 2001 through 2012, adjusting for inflation and the growing population. Add up the income for 12 years and it turns out to be $6.6 trillion less than if we had maintained the prosperity of 2000 for a growing population. Total those 12 years and the net shortfall per taxpayer comes to $48,010 ($39,500 after taxes). It is the equivalent of $11 appearing in your wallet every morning from the start of 2001 through the end of 2012.”

“Had that $6.6 trillion shortfall been realized as income, it would have been enough to pay off all the student loans in the United States ($1.26 trillion), all the automobile loans ($892 billion) and all the credit card debt ($827 billion). After paying all that debt off and taking taxes into account, American still would have more than $2.4 trillion left in their pockets and bank accounts.”

Johnston went on to point out that Bush sold the tax cuts as ensuring the future prosperity of America.

“In a December 1999, speech to Iowa voters, the future President Bush vowed, if elected, to put into law a ‘tax cut designed to sustain our nation’s prosperity – and reflect our nations decency … The entrepreneurs of America create jobs, take risks and make their profits with honor. My tax cut plan will expand their ranks by encouraging American enterprise … Low tax rates are a powerful economic tool to promote a higher standard of living for all Americans.”

Well, now we see how that worked out. Are we going to change course or just continue with the same failed policies?