Reply #61: Those numbers don't come as much of a surprise. [View All]

[bunkerbuster1]

Here's the thing to keep in mind--when you look at which presidential administrations have run higher deficits and run up the overall national debt versus those who've reversed both, it's always Republicans spending beyond their means, and Democrats actually funding the stuff and getting the debt under control, or at least more under control.

I recognize those are difficult burdens to overcome. They won't be overcome in one year or ten. First thing to do is to stop pretending that a tax-cut fairy is going to come down and magically increase revenues if we only give out some more breaks to business; I'd love for someone not named Walter Mondale with the balls to tell me "I will increase your taxes."

Second thing to do is to face down the military industrial complex and proclaim that the era of the US maintaining its global dominance by outspending the rest of the world combined, is over. It won't close the gap but it will help.

Third thing to do is to face facts and recognize that future SS and Medicare payments will involve both higher retirement ages (which we're already veering toward) and more active end-of-life management.

And that's really all that can be done.