Lack of Proper Comparative Context

I found this meme on a facebook page called Americans Against the Republican Party.  The group's tagline is "Saving America from the regressive GOP.

The man pictured is Gene Wilder.  He is dressed as he appeared in the 1971 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Mel Brooks. 

There is a plethora of Internet memes using this photograph.  It doesn't take much effort to create one.  I've seen it used with all sorts of messages -- some liberal, some conservative, many having nothing at all to do with politics -- so I'm fairly certain that it is Willy Wonka rather than Gene Wilder who is being selected as a spokesman. 

I have no idea who first decided that Roald Dahl's classic character would be a good choice for this application, but I find it interesting.  Perhaps because the reader is never quite certain whether the eccentric, enigmatic chocolate maker is good or bad, whether he's telling the truth or lying.  

What's the point of this meme and is it a point worth making? 

First, let's look to see if Republicans have something to complain about. 

According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which has a wonderfully simple-to-navigate website, the National Debt is defined as: 

". . .  the cumulative amount outstanding that the government has borrowed to finance deficits." 


There is a feature on the website which allows one to look up the National Debt figure of any particular day for the last ten years.  

As of February 14th, just a few days ago, that number was  $16,540,800,290,147.46.

As of Jan 20th, 2009, the day before President Obama took office, the National Debt was recorded as  $10,626,877,048,913.08

So, it would indeed seem that the National Debt has been increased during the Obama administration.  

The text at the bottom of the meme is a bit vague.  We've only had one President Reagan, but we've had two  Presidents Bush and we don't know which one is being referenced.  The first President Bush served immediately following Reagan.  Then came an eight year gap for the Clinton adminstration.  The second President Bush immediately preceded President Obama.    

Fortunately, once again,  Snopes.com came to my rescue, saving me hours of digging, comparing and struggling with mathematical computations involving ridiculously large numbers.

Back in 2011, the chart shown below was apparently circulated by Nancy Pelosi's office. 

A quick perusal tells me that the makers of our Willy Wonka meme could (and probably do?) mean both Presidents Bush.

So what did Snopes.com conclude after its in-depth analysis?

"All in all, this is a case of relatively accurate information which is of marginal value due to lack of proper comparative context." 

So there you have it.