# Just how responsible was Jimmy Carter for the troubled economy of the late 1970s?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-responsible-was-jimmy-carter-for-the-troubled-economy-of-the-late-1970s/322124>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 17, 2005, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-responsible-was-jimmy-carter-for-the-troubled-economy-of-the-late-1970s/322124 "2005-09-17T17:07:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\
**Post date:** [September 20, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-responsible-was-jimmy-carter-for-the-troubled-economy-of-the-late-1970s/322124/21 "2005-09-20T18:18:59Z")

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> [@UncleBeer](#):
>
> Why stop now?

I was trying to stay somewhat focused on the economy, not the engineering of the levees.

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**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-responsible-was-jimmy-carter-for-the-troubled-economy-of-the-late-1970s/322124/22 "2005-09-21T01:26:44Z")

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> [@BobLibDem](#):
>
> I was trying to stay somewhat focused on the economy, not the engineering of the levees.

A little more Carter, a little less levees would be perfect.

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**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2005, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-responsible-was-jimmy-carter-for-the-troubled-economy-of-the-late-1970s/322124/23 "2005-09-21T06:26:34Z")

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I’d say Carter wasn’t responsible for its original existence. But he was utterly incapable not merely of improving the economy, but even of slowing the rate of decline.

Find whatever fault you will in that.

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