How about if for starters we just get back to what is Constitutional.. because allegedly that is the Supreme Law of the USA.
What's the political message that gets the most votes? "If you'll vote for me, I'll take money away from other people and give it to you." In a society where everybody wants something from the government the only "practical" tax rate is 150% because that's what we're spending. Until people take responsibility for themselves and their children, we'll have bigger government and higher taxes until the entire system collapses.
Seems commonsensical, but is it occurring to a significant degree? Your entitlements are my taxes, and vice versa. In theory the process you describe should result in large spending on entitlements and large taxes. You and I may feel those things are large (and that's fine, it's prompts an examination) but to be fair (and wisely on guard for our own fallibility) how would we actually measure their size? Now before you say, "we know they're too big because of the deficit and the debt", consider that those would be true if entitlements (and other spending) were just right but taxes were too low--again, how do you actually measure the size of your taxes? Spending does need to be controlled, but the main growth (and the hard part) is in healthcare, as the boomers are aging. I think it's fair to give them a decent burial, so naturally we'd spend more even if (when) we get that rising cost under control. I agree in principle, but the reality is that our economy no longer needs to have everyone working to meet our basic needs. Sure, we could have everyone working if people were chasing luxuries (that's what American business and the credit sector have been utilizing for years), but obviously in a crunch it's the luxuries that are given up. Hence, recession.
I realize I am kicking the shit out of a dead horse, repeatedly, here.. but federal entitlements are fucking UNCONSTITUTIONAL, they are illegal. Every other argument is secondary to this FACT. HEALTH INSURANCE is NOT A RIGHT. SS NOT A RIGHT. EDUCATION NOT A RIGHT. ETC. It is perfectly clear that these things are beyond the scope of federal power. The fed govt IS out of control and it must be put back in its place.. not fucking expanded. Did you read the original federal tax plan?
There is no way to determine the exact right size of government and the politicians and bureaucrats use that to their advantage by saying everything they do is "necessary." What we have now is a large group of people doing everything in their power to make government bigger and virtually no one doing anything to make it smaller. Whether it's the right size or the wrong is made irrevelant by the political aspirations and greed for power displayed by our politicians (of both parties) on a daily basis. We're headed down the same path as the old Soviet Union and the more recent path of the EU politburo that will end in utter and total failure (bankruptcy) if we don't change course soon.
Ok, I completely understand your concern. But it is in the realm of feeling, still. I'm not saying that's invalid, just pointing out that to get our heads level we should look at the data. May as well, we're not going to change anything here, or today. Edit: Piggybank, that you find it so easy is great, but other men have not found it so, even those you might regard as sympathetic.
My primary concern is for my two kids. I don't see a future for them here. My wife is Australian and has retained her Aussie citizenship which may provide an escape for our children from this sinking ship.