great post. The long and short of it is that budget can be easily balanced. It depends on whose ox is being gored. No one receiving goodies from the government i.e. the American taxpayer doesn't believe that they are not deserving of what they get. These people would howl when their subsidies got cut (not necessarily totally eliminated, just cut), but in the long run everyone, including the cuttees, would be better off.
This statement needs revising.
These people would howl when their subsidies get a reduction of increase, never mind cut or eliminated, but in the long run everyone, including the cuttees, would be better off.