[VRWCmember]

No, I think the government should reduce spending in almost every area, including so-called “entitlements” beginning first with the many unearned entitlements. I think every item in the budget should be subject to ZERO-based budgeting so that what was budgeted or spent last year has no consideration in whether or not that item receives funding in the new budget.

[al_again2010]

let's say we cut entitlement spending and military spending by 25% which would still leave us with significant deficit spending but it gets to the point of being able to be managed (with economic growth, further cuts, and tax increases).

So if we are reducing Soc security and Medicare by 25% in actual spending, this means individual benefit spending has to be reduced by about 40% to make up for the longer life span and the boomers coming into the system.

For Social Security and Medicare, how do you see the US coming up with that 40% reduction in benefits?