And when you mention anything about the growth in federal government spending that has led to the US's huge debt, deficit, and debt-ceiling problem, fans of both political teams immediately begin shouting at each other.

Republicans howl that the whole problem is the fault of President Obama, the "community organizer" who exploded federal government spending the moment he took office.

Democrats, meanwhile, blame massive increase in federal government spending during the "MBA president" Bush years and the triumphant assertions by Republicans during those years that "deficits don't matter."

So, what's the truth?