| PAYGO is a brilliant idea. Republicans will lose their government credit card and now must declare publically the programs it wants to cut. Considering the fact that most government spending is related to entitlement and military programs, that will be politically hazardous. For example, I'd like to see a Republican presidential candidate go down to Florida's retirement communities and advocate deep cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. That would be fun to watch. Republicans who want massive defense spending increases will now have to couple them with similar spending cuts.
The Democrats also face difficulties in getting new taxes. But that has been the case for some time now. A better strategy is to find new revenues in rescinding the tax cuts for the rich and target new taxes on the oil industry and other similar enterprises. Average Americans would not object.
All in all, the Republicans find themselves on the defensive. They can't curry favor with the Democratic Party's traditional constituencies by sending the bill to future generations of Americans. It's about time we learn just what Republicans want average Americans to live without. |