Yeah Reagan piled up a lot of debt for the Military expansion, but thought related - is a seperate issue.

Most of the Clinton era prosperity revolved around 2 seperate points:

1) Reagan era policies. Just relaxing govt burden on society does not create a boom overnight. (also the unions were in the process of committing wholesale slaughter on USA industry during the 80's, the fact that there was some immediate improvement and poverty did not increase dramatically should be noted)

2) Dems had weak grasp on Congress the first 2 years, then lost control of Congress completely the remaining 6.

Clinton tried to destroy the country his first 2 years in office but a stalwart GOP had barely enough in the Senate to filibuster.

After getting walloped in the mid-terms , Clinton moved to the center - and gridlock between Dems and GOP kept most really stupid ideas that politicians get (ie: almost all) from being implemented and allowed people to get on with their lives.

The GOP went totally corrupt though after getting handed both Congress and the Presidency, and started the downward spiral, followed by Obama who also with control of 2 govt branches, has accelerated the downward process.

Had gridlock remained the status quo we would be much better off. Unfortunately, things have gotten to the point where only a large, concentrated effort to reverse policies and thinking can we save ourselves from slowly descending into a dystopic statist/corporate society of corruption.

As they say, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

For who could be free when every other man's humour might domineer over him? - John Locke (2nd Treatise, sect 57)