Spending

Borrowing the money to spend on the level of President Obama's 2011 budget proposals may be the straw (in this case, a whole load of hay) that breaks our government's back.

Democrats simply will not do what anyone who has run a business knows: In tough times, you've got to cut spending. And, as already noted previously, one should start with those departments not covered under Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

As an independent, I also blame George Bush and his Democrat Congress of Pelosi/Reid for expanding the deficits/debt. However, Obama's deficit/debt spending on steroids make's Bush's spending look miniscule in comparison.

I would favor a national "debt reduction sales tax" (DRST) with all revenues going strictly to debt reduction. This would be a tax that EVERYONE who made a purchase would pay and so everyone would have an interest in seeing it decreased and ultimately eliminated by paying down the public debt. I wouldn't apply it in a recession. However, in place of the fed increasing interest rates to slow a heating up economy, I'd turn on and/or increase the DRST which would have the same effect.

It would also help to have a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and a presidential line-item veto. But get the DRST going and the people will then keep pressure on the over-spenders in BOTH parties to curb deficit spending and get our fiscal house in order.