[chiller]

"...raises taxes and cutting spending (taxes)"

Assuming you meant cutting spending; that was the great debate wasn't it? I was tempted too at first, but only if spending cuts were stone cold and immediate. I soon came to realize that would never be the case. Taxes go up right now. Cuts are left up to future years and, congresses, and Presidents and never happen.

Baseline budgeting is the problem, which means cuts aren't cuts at all, but simply reductions in the rate of growth (an automatic 10% annually, iirc) The Penny plan would solve this also. Scrap baseline budgeting, and reduce everything by 1%.

[Orange1998]

Yes only a politician can say it with a straight face. Raising taxes now and cut spending years in the future is accounting trick. If we want something (ie: man cave) and told our spouses that theory we would be in the dog house.