There is no doubt that the best solution to the deficit problem is strong economic growth — but only if spending is constrained to grow at a much slower rate than revenues. Until that happens, the deficit will never be solved.
The argument forgets one key fact, no one in the government expects to or wants to pay down the existing federal debt. The ace in the hole is the Federal Reserve. They are the never ending sleight of hand provider of money to the government. Buy the paper, credit the governments bank account and voila!, instant cash to spend. Pretty neat trick, keep borrowing from yourself and pay it back with more paper! Krugman channels Bullwinkle: "Nothing up our sleeves!". I just do not want to be around when the day of reckoning comes.