legal vs voluntary obligations

I agree. "The Great Society" over extended itself and now it's time to pay Peter, Paul, Mary, and hundreds of others. We have an obligation to pay those who have lent us money. And we're going to have to make changes to welfare, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, etc., as well as drop hundreds of programs/projects. I'm even for eliminating whole agencies to get where we need to be...e.g., DoE. And we're going to have to drastically cut/downsize other agencies...e.g., DoI, DoD, etc. I really want them to take a hard look at each Department and rather than cut x amount across the board, to cut as needed/necessary. Some departments may have to take a 10% reduction, others more, others less. But it needs to be done over a period of years or it'll fail.

Oh, you are talking at the USA. Well, to put it simply, nothing is going to happen, only the debt will climb higher. Each new person entering government will blame all the problems on the previous administration. Federal government blames the states (provinces) and the reverse applies too. Legally the government does whatever it likes because they make the laws so they can also change them. The US has friends in so many third world countries that employ these dastardly policies, they will have no problem learning how to be the same.

Sounds a bit too logical! Won't work because ideology rules so much of the U.S. government these days.. Can't be realistic. Guess I'm getting a bit pessimistic!

You are right. It is time to set priorities. Look at what is actually and obligation to the country. Defense, infrastructure. It may sound mean and callous but people need to start taking care of themselves. I understand that there are certain (few) cases that are legitimate that truly need help. But the fact is, society can and will help each other, The government does not belong in these domestic issues.