[sphinx]

Freeze non-defense spending? Non-defense spending is mostly entitlements. You would freeze Social Security payments and Medicare reimbursement rates? In fact, you would have to cut Medicare reimbursement rates to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers of new retirees. Entitlement reform is urgently needed. But it ain't gonna be easy.

The democrats are counting on uncontrolled entitlements driving us into de facto socialism and dramatically higher tax rates, just as they are counting on uncontrolled immigration producing a leftist electoral lock. In both cases, the drift of events works in their favor. All they have to do is demonize reformers. That is the challenge, and if we do not find a way to meet it, we might as well immigrate to Sweden or the Netherlands to find a relatively free market refuge.

[econjack]

I hate the use of "entitlement" for SS payments. As originally planned, only contributors got benefits, and that's the way it should be. But, you're right. Entitlements has to be brought under control. However, if you limit spending and do away with true "entitlement" programs (e.g., free cell phone...really??), perhaps it could be slowly reduced/phased out.

Just to show you how PO'ed I am, I'd like a law that says if you don't pay Federal Income taxes, you don't vote in federal elections. Nothing the in the game, why should you have a say? Think what that would do to spending.