Reason Why Deficit Reduction Must Include Medicare

The discretionary budget is much smaller than the non-discretionary entitlements part which includes Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Of those three, Medicare and Medicaid spending are projected to grow the most. So in order to "fix" the budget and get us to where we can run sustainable deficits of approx. -4%GDP, I see no way out other than to tackle Medicare and Medicaid.

I support ending subsidies for corporations including the green subsidies that are so favored right now along with all farm subsidies, but that's just a drop in the bucket.

I also support reducing the defense budget and eliminating costly weapons projects that deal with an enemy we don't have and won't get into a war with, such as Russia and China. Both have nuclear weapons and a war would end in mutual destruction. Due to the proliferation of nukes amongst high tech nations, conventional weapons such as fighters, bombers, and so forth are unlikely to be ever used so there is no need for them. Cutting defense spending would be a help in reducing the deficit, but again, not enough.

At least Ryan made a proposal. It's time for Democrats and President Obama to likewise, make a serious proposal that would reduce the deficit to manageable means. Constantly bashing Ryan's proposal gets us no further towards a solution, there has to be an alternative for the discussion to move forward and we haven't seen it yet. And to cut off the usual cries of tax the rich, that won't be enough either if Obama sticks to his promise that no one making under $250,000 will see a tax increase.