[econjack]

The allure of offering "free stuff" to stupid people gets them reelected, and that's all they are about. The long run to them is their term of office. Warren Buffet proposed one solution: Any sitting member of Congress who supports a budget that increases the deficit by more than 3% cannot run for reelection. Until there's a punishment for spending too much, there will be no change. To date, they say the cause of the deficit is that taxes are too low. They never even stop to consider that lower spending also provides a means of lowering the deficit. Truthfully, a Constitutional Amendment is probably the only thing that will stop them from more stupid spending. Free cell phones for deadbeats...really?

[amorphous]

Truthfully, a Constitutional Amendment is probably the only thing that will stop them from more stupid spending.

Agree, but that's never going to happen. Barring some unforeseen technological - or spiritual - savior, we're off the cliff and headed for a very hard landing.

[bgill]

Buffet was wrong. There should be no deficit increase. There should be an effort to drastically reduce it.