Problem is we have been inflating our economies ever since Keynesian policies became the norm so there hasn't been any "real" good time periods to raise taxes and cut spending.
Bubble, bust. Rinse, repeat. Conservatives and liberals politicians alike. They all (well not really all) worship at the Keynes altar. It wins elections.
But somehow lost in all this is, is the fact people and businesses have to balance their books. Governments just print more "assets" until they can no longer. All thanks to Keynes.