Gene Morphis ' View

Should conservatives support a balanced budget amendment? I don't think so. To understand why , let's review some history. Beginning with the Eisenhower era, budget compromises were always hammered out. Defense suffered some in that, but there were plenty of strong defense, conservative Democrats that kept things reasonable. With the coming of Johnson's Great Society, however, dramatic shifts began. Strong defense democrats like John Stennis, Scoop Jackson, Mike Mansfield and Jack Kennedy, retired, passed away or were pushed aside, as the Viet Nam war turned the Democratic Party pacifist. The compromises made to balance the annual budget among various government priorities moved strongly away from defense to a growing variety of social programs. This continued under Nixon and Carter. The CIA was almost destroyed by Senator Church, while the overall defense budget was dismantled, as Republicans made cuts to keep the budget balanced. However, a new theory emerged a...

Let's deal with this before the U.S. (and don't tell me it can't happen here). First, separate this into two issues: the current deficit, and the accumulated debt. The deficit should be dealt with through massive spending cuts.  Entire government agencies - at the cabinet level - should go.  If you've had experience in a company, charity, church, local or state government, school district, etc. then you very likely know one thing: to get real cuts, first the frills must go.  For employees to accept pay cuts and still give 100%, the corporate jet has to go. Same here.  The Acorns and Planned Parenthoods must go.  This isn't about whether or not they are effective.  We are broke, and therefore can't afford frills.  Then you move to the tough  stuff, and larger amounts. The goal would be to cut at least a trillion from current spending. Then, on to the accumulated debt.  There tax increases are required.  Conservative buddies...