deficit question: do we have a revenue problem or a spending problem?

[jotacar]

Why do you think that it must be one or the other?

The most sensible way to deal with a deficit is to increase revenue *and*
decrease spending.

Anyone who tries to insist on only one or the other is either a moron, or
is brighter than a moron, but failing to use all of his or her intellect.

(Yes, clever people sometimes think in a stupid fashion. Political ideology
does that to those on both the Left and the Right. Their politics overcome
their good sense. Did you not listen to some of the debates among the
candidates for the Republican nomination? Those people often sounded like
idiots, and no one would call them stupid. Just politically demented!)

((I've just read some of the comments offered above by "smaller government"
advocates. They illustrate beautifully the manner in which otherwise fairly
intelligent people can go off a cliff of their own, because of their blind
adherence to some political position or another.
Without exception, they are people who would not willingly give up a single
government benefit that they receive personally. Investigate, and you'll
find that they are all for cutting off benefits and services that OTHERS enjoy!
They can go to h*** and take their selfishness with them.))