I think it's been a very long time since the idea of balanced budgets could be associated with either Republicans or Democrats. Unfortunately both parties have decided that in order to win votes, you must over-promise and by the time we as citizens have to face the music, they as politicians have moved on to a different role and don't have to be accountable. Sad to say the Tea Party that rose to fringe power in the last couple decades actually had a point about fiscal responsibility, but while members of their broader party remained relevant, that particularly important message was lost.