Quote from Hydroblunt:
The budgets were never balanced. Ever. Look into it or choose buy the Clinton PR.
As for the Congress over-spending debacle, it's simple. The whole scheme started in 1913 with all money in the system having interest attached to it. There simply is never enough money in the system to repay the debt & interest. So the government is always motivated to keep growing the budget so that there is always an influx of "money" coming in and hence enough to keep re-paying interest.
There is so much history behind the central banks and US presidents and senators battling them in the 1800s, that the objections brought up by the supporters of the Fed are plain silly. It's been done, argued over and outcomes seen on both sides. The founding fathers have aimed hard to avoid the central bank system of Britain, for key reasons.
To allow one monopolistic entity control your nation's money is bad, very bad. To actually be happy & supportive about it, is plain idiocy.