One to five years?
We need 3x $430B per year.
full agreement from me.
By my numbers, we need almost twice that again.
Budget FY2011 - $3.7 trillion.
Projected revenue FY2011 - $2.5 trillion.
Current debt - $14 trillion @ 1.3%.
If we were to amortize the debt over the next 30 years (the longest term we sell bonds) at today's interest rate, it would cost $560 million per year.
Revenue $2.5 trillion minus debt payment $560 million leaves $1.94 trillion per year to spend. Very close to needing to cut $2 trillion per year just to break even.
And if we don't start now, it will just get harder to do it later.