Reagan, Bush I and Clinton were beneficiaries of the Boomer generation entering the work force, making natural families (mom, dad, 2.3 kids) and both buying and saving--and overfunding the social security payments to their grandparents. No luck involved there, just a maturing Baby Boom. Bush II (2nd term) and Obama are presiding over the maturing of the Gen-X and early millennials, who are not entering the work force, not making families, and neither buying nor saving. Result--a worldwide recession with no end in sight.