...one must parse unwise debt (debt that finances running costs) from intelligent debt (public infrastructure for energy, transport, health care, or education).
Just because the author does not use the word “entitlements” does not mean they are left out. I’d think most readers would realize that entitlements make up most of the “unwise debt”. Also, while “running costs” are, as you say, the cost of government, the issue is rather funding them with ever increasing debt and not the running costs themselves.
The maintenance cost and the price tag to operate all this infrastructure has got to be huge.
Greedy, power hungry, self serving individuals have run this nation into the ground for decades.
Once upon a time, our leaders attempted to protect America, her standard of living, her well being.
Not any longer, it's all about money and power.
Multi-national corps lobby politicians, contribute generously to help get them elected, heap perks upon them while in office.
What do these greedy elites get in return?
Policy that allow them to starve our economy through outsourcing, huge bailouts when their bottom line suffers a few points, and the ability to go overseas and create an almost limitless new consumer pool in China / India.
It's not always about, “Americans want cheaper goods” or “doing the jobs Americans won't do”, it's about greed.
Knowingly placing your country at jeopardy once upon a time was a crime!
Our leaders have failed the American people. Border security, immigration enforcement, fiscal mismanagement, lopsided trade negotiations, over regulating, too many overlapping laws, over taxation....the list goes on.
America is dying and we still allow over 1 million LEGAL immigrants in a year.....not to mention the twenty or so million illegals already here.
If one didn't know better, ya’d almost think this all was on purpose!
Exactly how would you leave out entitlements? It doesn’t make any sense not to trim those.