There are two ways to cut a deficit:

[Stinky The Clown]

1. Reduce spending

2. Increase revenue

The repubicans simply ignored this when they held sway. They increased spending and decreased taxes (revenue).

Why are the Democrats now playing right into that strategy? The wealthy, who were overwhelmingly the beneficiaries of tax cuts, remain criminally undertaxed. Meanwhile, the cuts go to the very programs that, literally, are keeping some of us alive.

What the fuck?

Just what the fuck?

[raccoon]

1. End wars? K&R. nt

[SteppingRazor]

2. Doesn't that fall under "reduce spending?"

And in any case, we were operating massive deficits even before Iraq and Afghanistan, so while that certainly would cut back on spending it wouldn't be nearly enough. I have to agree with the OP that the "increase revenue" part of the equation is necessary, and it's just bizarre how both parties entirely ignore targeted tax increases. We should start with removing the cap on social security payroll taxes and go from there.

[Johonny]

8. I agree

Had Obama done that and close gitmo at the same time increasing the tax rates on top 1 % back to the Clinton level, we'd already have a shrinking debt. Instead we still have all the crap things and now cuts to programs that Americans need. Ugh.

[Marr]

3. Because Obama and the GOP both service the same crowd, and this is Act 2 of the

play they began by lowering taxes and jacking up spending. This is where they turn out the pockets, make a sad face, and say they feel just terrible about it, but we're going to have to cut all sorts of social spending because we just don't have any money.

[raccoon]

5. Well said! nt

[FogerRox]

4. Neither, improve the economy.

Worked good for Clinton.

[Edweird]

6. That's 'increase revenue'.

[ladjf]

7. Millions of Americans would agree with this post. Now, what is it

going to take to get these millions heard to the point of positive action?

(This is not a trick question. I truly don't know the answer but would like it if we could come up with one that would work.)

[Stinky The Clown]

9. Our "great" nation has a history, over the last 30 to 40 years, of having its citizens just .....

...... bending over and taking it.

The theft becomes more and more obvious and, as a people, we become more and more accepting.

[ladjf]

10. I have a theory on what is causing that but it would take up too

much space to write it here and I'm not good enough writer to make my point clear.

I will give a brief hint at what I have in mind.

The American people have been trained by the people in charge to disregard the normal objective
thinking process and to substitute that with the acceptance of whatever the "people in charge" want them to believe. It has become a battle between professional mind controllers vs amateur ordinary people, just trying to eke out a living.

[woofless]

11. "Tax the rich" has become my mantra.

I am thinking of painting it on the side of my van.