With no significant change to the tax code, federal receipts have completely recovered from the recession, but the spending levels have remained elevated by the 700 billion "one time" stimulus spending. Put a stop to that gravy train of pork and 3/4th of the budget problems vanish immediately.

Once that is done I am very willing to look at revenue increases (preferably by eliminating deductions, expanding the tax base, and lowering rates so that EVERYONE feels the pinch) in conjunction with additional spending cuts. However, until at least some semblance of financial sanity appears in DC, I am against giving them one single additional penny to play with.

As for Social Security and Medicare, they should (again) be completely removed form the federal budget calculations and handled as a completely separate self-sufficient fund. They spend their money, and nobody else's, and nobody can touch theirs under the requirement that they must show a projected 20 year solvency (no more "scare the grannies" as an election tool), Congress should have oversight, but not direct control.