Who elects politicians? Again, show me a successful politician that said he was going to increase taxes and decrease benefits? If there was such a beast, how many people on this forum would elect him/her?bbobb wrote: Looking at what promises get politicians elected, many people in both parties don't care if it's sustainable forever. As long as they think it will keep going for the rest of their lives, it's somebody else's problem in their mind.
The arguments against tax more are constant. The arguments against spend less are constant. Generally they are:
1) If we tax more the government will just spend more.
2) If we tax more, we'll slow the economy and there will be a net loss of revenue at a greater burden on the people.
3) If we spend less, there will be a net slowing of the economy and again, the net gain will be negative.
So we'll continue to fund a massive military, a huge social entitlement program - which, lets face it - the vast majority of Americans are going to be dependent on. And disability? Don't get me started there.. We've got a massive industry just built up around making sure people don't ever have to work again in some cases.
I'm with VM - this will not stand. How long it'll continue to stand, I have no idea. Likely it'll be passed on to my children, if my generation is "lucky"...
Realistically, at retirement time, I'm probably going to re-assess where I want to live - not because I don't love this country, but because I don't necessarily want to have massive devaluation of my money.