[dlp211]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but that graph doesn't show anything with regards to whether or not middle-class folks have been hit with austerity.

Federal outlays are not granular enough and increasing Federal outlays is pretty meaningless.

[AnthonyMouse]

Austerity in the context of government means spending cuts. "We diverted the tax money to cronies instead of anything that benefits you and spending actually went up" is not austerity, it's corruption.