[quote=no_such_reality]
Honestly, the fiscal cliff is probably the best compromise solution the congress is going to come up with today. Both sides have what they think is a gun to the other sides head, which probably means it’s pretty good as all the sacred cows are going to get gored.[/quote]
All the sacred cows should get gored. Why play favorites. Obviously the biggest problem and fastest growing problem is health care. On the current growth rate it will eat up all of the budget in the next 15 years and it 30 years it would eat up the entire GDP of the country. Social security can probably be indexed to life span and means tested. Defense should probably be reduced by at least 25% and more likely 50% but you could make an argument that some defense spending in R&D is actually a productive activity for the economy.