[quote=no_such_reality]Here, I’ll balance the budget.

Step one, expire the Obama extended Bush tax cuts.
Step two: let the FICA tax reduction expire.
Step three: reduce military budget by 40% bring the war troops home. (Psst, we’ll still be spending a half trillion on the military.)
Step four: reduce discretionary spending by 20%.

There. budget balanced.

IT is the f-ing simple.[/quote]

Ok, let’s see.

Revenue 2.435 trillion.

Expire tax cuts let’s be generous and add $200 billion. Revenue = 2.635 trillion.

Expire payroll tax for another $120 billion or so. Revenue = 2.755 trillion.

Now for spending $3.563 trillion.

Reduce military by 40% so 676*.4 = $270 billion so spending is now $3.293.

Reduce discretionary by 20% so 1.289*.2 = 257.8 billion so spending is now 3.035.

So we got closer but we need another 3.035-2.755 = $280 billion in cuts or revenue.

It gets pretty hard when you don’t touch entitlements, doesn’t it.