[techweenie]

The previous administration didn't put the cost of two wars in the budget. The current administration does. It's all numbers gamesmanship. the "cost of war" is not the cost of war, because obligations are created (post combat care) that make an $800 billion war actually a $1.2 trillion war.

But the core of the problem is that there isn't enough discretionary spending to cut anymore without big cuts to defense, which some will not countenance despite huge waste and irresponsibility.

Taxes (especially on the top bracket_ are lower now than at any time in the past 40 years and they need to come back up to Reagan-era levels, at least.