then answer this freakylocz. tax revenue in the US, at a federal level, right now is at a level on par with the early 1950's. at the same time US population has more than doubled, government expenses of all types have increased drastically. I'm not talking about spenditure in social programs, I'm talking about every day expenses such as road maintenance, salaries, healthcare costs, and of course the cost of the military. What I want to know is how exactly we should be able to maintain all these expenses at current levels with an ever decreasing tax base? I'm sure we can cut expenses drastically, but at what point is that no longer enough? who wants to live in the area where public schools are no longer supported by the state (and people are asked to pay, or god forbid, test in)? who wants to be the first to say, you know what, don't maintain the highway by my house, lets save money?
See where I'm going with this? the answer is not many folks are willing to give up benefits of any kind.
The problem is that economics doesn't care. if action is not taken to restructure the way government moneys are collected and spent, then the market will eventually make the decision for the government (as it is already starting to do).