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There has to be a long term plan and an organized appraoch.

It's not at all clear to me how that conversation begins. I've been waiting for it to begin for a good 30 years. Two years of trillion dollar deficits tell me that some folks have no interest in this topic.

I'll concede that I've been describing an unrealistic approach -- but seriously: How do you expect to initiate a realistic conversation about deficit reduction? The Democrats aren't going to participate. I say that based on 30 years of observation.

The position I've been arguing for? It's unrealistic. There. I said it.
The position that you seem to support? That we need to agree on an organized approach? Exactly what can you say that tells that this is a realistic approach?

Anyone reading our interchange would say that I'm crazy and that you are far more reasonable. But I would maintain that both of our positions are crazy. Yours just sounds more level-headed.

To be very clear: We clearly want the same thing. I just don't see how this country gets there.

The Tea Party movement and the election results indicate to me that the public gets it. They understand that something needs to be done or we will wind up like Greece.

Obama appointed this deficit commission, which is just away of deferring the responsibilty to someone else to make the hard decisions. Paul Ryan will be chairman of the finance committee. He is a good conservative and has a plan. Getting it adopted is another matter.

This country has some very difficult, painful decisions to make. Anyone who says we can get out of this mess without any pain is lying. Both parties need to come together on the problem rather than demogoging it for political advantage. They have to speak to Ameircans as adults.

Obama is such an ideologue and partisan, I doubt he will be able to make the hard decisions. We will have to wait two years to get something done. In the meantime, we stop his agenda, including spending, and try to roll back some of the things he has already done. The Reps need to paint him as the bad guy and not let Obama blame Congress and Bush for all of our problems.

Shutting down the government just plays into his hands. Let the House start investigating the Administration. Let them show how much ObamaCare really costs. Revenge is a dish best served cold.