We should be very afraid

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s final budget, a $3 trillion plan offered Monday that would continue his tax cuts and sharply reduce domestic spending, has little chance of surviving in a Democratic Congress. But the problems it lays out will survive and grow, presenting tough choices for the next administration.

There is a valid concern for our future- especially as the keys to the oval will switch hands.
This is a red flag:

“Republicans and Democrats are in complete denial on these issues,” said Robert D. Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former director of the Congressional Budget Office. “But were they to face up to the long-run fiscal challenges, it would be a ticket to defeat. It’s not what voters want to hear.”

We all know Washington politicians are less about the actual constituents than they are about their personal re-election, but when are we going to start telling constituents the cold hard truth?

One example, Social Security is not on the mend, despite the President's efforts, because our Reps in Congress are too sick about telling the public something they will not want to hear. GET OVER IT. Americans aren't stupid. Let's hear the facts and see what we think. If you come up with a plan and you botch it, we'll tell you in November. But if you actually go out on a limb for the people and what's best for the taxpayer, perhaps we'll reward you. (Well, no guarantees.)

Is there hope?

The presidential campaign does not exactly reverberate with proposals for dealing with these problems.

For the Democrats, Senators Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York would find the money by letting taxes rise for the wealthiest Americans. But that step would not raise enough money to pay for the spending programs they propose.

On the Republican side, Senator John McCain of Arizona and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts would cut wasteful federal spending — Mr. McCain points to “earmarks” for “pork barrel” projects — but budget experts agree that there is not enough money to be had from that course of action either.

On Super Tuesday, what are voters actually voting for?