"Fiscal Hurricane"

A 'fiscal hurricane' on the horizon. Today's article from USA TODAY is about the most depressing and realistic prediction of the US economy I have seen in a long time. Put simply, nobody from either party is addressing the historic budget problems we have. Because politicians suck at selling tax hikes and budget cuts, it would be suicide if Democrats try to cut spending or if Republicans try to raise taxes. But economists say both have got to happen, and soon. The author compares our fiscal situation to that of Rome before it's collapse.

I had an history professor back in college that liked to compare the US empire to that of Rome. He predicted we were already on the road to making tragic Roman mistakes like blurring the line between pop-culture and politics (Ventura? Schwarzenegger? Commodus?).

You know, I REALLY love this country and it would be really nice if it was still around when I'm old, I'd even like to give my kids a shot at growing old in the USA. Why the hell won't politicians look past the next elections for once. In 2008 voters and the media must find a way to steer the discussion away from relatively insignificant issues like monkeys, fetusus, and 2 dudes kissing..... and force politicians to address the real issues, like how they are going to keep this country's budget from imploding on itself in the next 50 years.