[LS]

To an extent, you are right. But the big problem is that people will NOT clean it up until they see a pressing need to do so---or, to use the media cliche, a "crisis." Sad, but that is a fact of life.

Reagan lambasted deficits his whole political life, but eventually had to sign on to them, because there was simply not the national public will to do anything about them. Likewise, Reagan promised to cut DOE and DOEd, but didn't lift a finger against them, because there was not a national "small government" mood.

I'm not so pessimistic as to think people will always think in a welfare mentality, but until the public changes, even the best of leaders can only go so far before it's committing political suicide. Many here think that's being "RINO," but I don't know at what point as an ELECTED official you can NOT give the people what they want. Now, if you look at the poll, the public will soon see that they DON'T WANT this, but that message has to sink in first.

[Moonman62]

Reagan lambasted deficits his whole political life, but eventually had to sign on to them, because there was simply not the national public will to do anything about them. Likewise, Reagan promised to cut DOE and DOEd, but didn't lift a finger against them, because there was not a national "small government" mood.

But Reagan had that "small government" philosophy and he did what he could, including slashing federal regulations. And eventually that philosophy caught on with Republicans in Congress during the 90's. GWB nor his father have that philosophy.