Was the budget really balanced? or was it government speak? Clinton had
the advantage of a robust economy as well as a congress that cut spending.

I suggest we all go look at the national debt statistics. The increase in the
national debt during the 8 years of Reagan? About 4 trillion.
The increase during the 8 years of Clinton? About 4 trillion.
I am not sure why one budget was more balanced than the other. It was really
only which pocket they were spending the money out of. In Clinton's case he had
the 1993 increase in FICA to give the impression of a surplus. I know there are
lots of inflationary reasons why Reagan's 4 trillion was really more money but
when our kids have to pay it back 4 trillion is 4 trillion.
Bear in mind that the FICA surplus goes upside down in about 10 years and we
are going to start expecting the worthess bonds to mature and pay back the SS
folks who bought them.