Terrifying: Increases in Real Per Capita Federal Spending Over The Past 35 Years
The above chart put together by my frequent collaborator Veronique de Rugy is, simply put, terrifying.

It shows the growth in inflation-adjusted federal outlays per capita. So what you're looking at is a trend line that accounts for population growth and inflation.

Two things stand out: George W. Bush was god-awful. And Barack Obama looks to be even worse (note: fiscal 2009 includes spending attributable to both adminstrations).