Public financing of all elections. Get the money out of the equation!

What America needs is term limits for every elected official. Life-long politicians must go the way of the dinosaur. To garner true change we can't hold on to the way things used to be. People must matter more than political machines, big money, lobbiest, and billionaires. I'm not a bleeding heart liberal, far from it, but I do know that Americans deserve to be protected by our leaders not sold to the highest bidder. I don't see how millionaires and billionaires can truly understand the needs and desires of the working middle class.

For people talking about Bush's War being the big cause of the debt... In the first three years of Obama's term alone he added more the the National Debt (almost 5 trillion) than Bush did in his full two terms. I'm not saying I agree with all of Bush's economic decisions, but be aware that Obama has contributed greatly to our debt as well. I think that there should be an increase in revenue as well as spending cuts. I think that, in terms of the economy, Obamacare, as well as many other of the Obama administration's programs, were poorly timed. Would it be nice for everyone to have health insurance? Definitely. I wish that we could provide all the services people need, but to some degree we have to accept that isn't possible, especially during economic hardship.

Public services don't really help people. People grow dependent on them and then never get out of the poverty cycle.

One can not expect Govt provided services without some form of revenue. However, should services be so large to where businesses do not have the ability to grow? I would think not. At some point, if you tax the people too much and offer fewer private sector opportunities for employment, the economy will end up imploding forcing the government as well as people to take on more debt. The more debt that is levied on the public, the fewer dollars people have at their disposal for investment which further cripples their retirement future.

I'm willing to pay for what I get - I want Public Health care like I had in the military, like what Switzerland has now turned to. I also want a rebuilding of our infrastucture, akin to the Interstate highway system - rebuild bridges, roads, railways - and (crazy idea?) LARGE tubes along the interstate hwys to move water from flooded areas to drought areas. Right now, I'd be willing to pay for these programs. I think we need them and I think it would lead to another boom time for the middle class that we experienced in the 1950's. Please remember that we were still paying for all Roosevelt New Deals programs (Hoover Dam, Social Security, FDIC, TVA, etc.), WWII, The GI Bill, Manhattan Project, the Marshall Plan, Korean War & Interstate Hwy system. The prosperity these programs produced meant they were paid for by the early 1960's. I make right around $50k. My total tax rate (including SocSec & Medicare) is just over 16% which seems pretty low compared to the BIG jobs what I'd like to see get done in this country. I really wish we had added an extra half of one percent tax on gas & diesel back when we were first warned of the problems with our energy dependence (Nixon was 1st Perz to make the warning). By now we very well may have a battery that could effienctly harness wind, solar, and other energies. I think we as American's are pretty whinney about our taxes in general & energy prices in particular.

Why is it too much to ask that the govt do what any individual would do in their personal budget? If you want to get out of personal financial trouble, you cut your spending AND you work to get extra $$ into your budget - for the govt, that means raising taxes. History tells us that you can't fund a war (or two) and have a tax cut at the same time. Normally you have to raise taxes in order to pay for the war. Eliminate the Bush tax cut (even if it is only for a specific # of years) and work to get out of the hole we are in.

Many items in earmarks are valid and would provide infrastructure which the local community simply cannot afford. However, too many congressmen don't use good judgement when applying for some of these projects. They need to look at the effect it will have on the rest of the country which would be paying for it.

A balanced budget is desirable, but should not be a constitutional requirement.

An earmark is a legislative medium to assign funds for pecial pet project in the legislator's district. It is a mean to get the prok out of ther barrel.

What is an earmark? I am just guessing here.

In your poll question you asked: Which statement comes closer to your personal feelings It is more important to cut the budget deficit. Our economy is imperiled by such high debt. It is more important to cut taxes to improve the economy than it is to balance the budget. The best way to climb out of debt is to spur the economy. It is more important to utilize government spending to increase productivity and spur the economy even if it raises the national debt ************** Where was the option for the obvious answer of "Raise taxes and cut spending"? What good is a poll without an acceptable answer?

If the Republicans don't want to close tax loopholes and demand that hedge fund managers pay taxes at the same rate as their secretaries, then I say let's go over the cliff. We'll pick the pieces and deal w the aftermath. See you on the rocks.

The only way out of the current financial disaster that the US is facing is both increasing tax revenues AND decreasing spending. We need to get serious about the financial realities of the social progams we have; there should be means testing on both medicare and social security and the age should be increased. We also need to get serious about military spending as well, I am all for a strong military, but the level of spending is not sustainable. And the Bush tax cuts should be reversed. Not sure if even that is enought to stem a 1 trillion dollar deficit, but come one, the debate today is too polarized along traditional party lines, and neither party line alone will fix a 30% deficit.

Any decent plan needs revenue increases as well. This can't be done from one side of the ledger.