[Spexxvet]

Maybe if tax rates were higher on wealthier Americans, we could balance the budget. And maybe even pay off some of the national debt, to boot.

There will never be a consensus on budgetary cuts among Americans in general - too many people think in "I" terms, instead of "we". When you throw in the ulterior motives of our legislature, it's guaranteed that there'll never be a balanced budget, without tax increases.