Sadly, we are in the same boat as France. Any President that cuts benefits to the government teat crowd will probably face a defeat by the same margin.
This is the reality we face. Any conservative who wins will face the same problem. It won’t take 5% cuts to invoke the same response we see in Wisconsin. 15% cuts would result in even more angst. I think anything more than a 5% cut would result in crushing mid-terms for the GOP.
That’s the way I see it. It’s not optimistic, but I invite anyone who thinks differently to tell me where I am wrong. Our current reality is that we need to cut probably 40% of the Federal government budget and cut regulations to stand a chance of returning to long-term prosperity. Anyone who cuts that much will be a one term proposition and they will lose ground in congress.
The longer we go without long term austerity measures by government the weaker the dollar becomes and the higher inflation will go. It’s a catch-22. The cuts will take many administrations to be effective. All the progressives have to do is convince the mushy middle that the pain is not needed and we are back to square one. Just like France.
1. Cut Regulations
2. Set economic policies that maximize growth (i.e.no dividend and savings taxes, Corporate Tax is 10%).
3. By EO close Agencies such as the EPA, Energy, Agriculture etc. because we cannot afford them.
4. Stop all federal funding to non essential organizations like Sierra Club, ACORN (whatever it is called now).
Once the economy is growing and unemployment (U6) is down to 10%
put in place new SS limits (i.e. cannot collect until 70yrs old for those born after 19__). Recommend Tort Reform.