Wondering why those chumps in Congress can't seem to fix the deficit? Try the New York Times' online deficit-fixing calculator, which lets you choose various proposals for deficit reduction and see just how much of an impact they'll have.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?hp

 

I was able to eliminate the 2015 shortfall, but only by pissing off a bunch of Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries, reducing the DoD's budget, and raising a few taxes.

 

Hopefully this gives people a sense of the scale of the problem, and a sense that no matter what course is taken, it will hurt. Just cutting out waste won't solve the problem -- something's gotta give, and it'll probably be something a vocal group of people will defend angrily.

Wondering why those chumps in Congress can't seem to fix the deficit? Try the New York Times' online deficit-fixing calculator, which lets you choose various proposals for deficit reduction and see just how much of an impact they'll have.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/11/13/weekinreview/deficits-graphic.html?hp

 

I was able to eliminate the 2015 shortfall, but only by pissing off a bunch of Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries, reducing the DoD's budget, and raising a few taxes.

 

Hopefully this gives people a sense of the scale of the problem, and a sense that no matter what course is taken, it will hurt. Just cutting out waste won't solve the problem -- something's gotta give, and it'll probably be something a vocal group of people will defend angrily.

That was easy. I just clicked all the boxes. Vote for me, and I'll fix the deficit!

Wasn't too hard. I just clicked each option that would make your system more like ours.

 

Saved $567 billion by 2015 and $1,631 billion by 2030.

I solved the deficit!

Reduce military, increase tax.

 

Got you guys a surplus on the short term, and a minor deficit on the long term, but I believe that increased government spending (which is hopefully on the home-market, not in China) will boost the economy.

I fixed it with 83% cuts, mostly military, social security, and entitlements. The "cap-medicare" by 2013 option goes a LONG way.