As important, the Senate dealt with some issues of an aging society by slowly raising the eligibility age for Medicare to 67 and requiring that wealthier Medicare recipients pay higher premiums. If either proposal survives a House-Senate conference, it may mean that Democrats and Republicans can debate these matters without accusing each other of slaughtering the elderly. Finally, the new budget would correct some past mistakes. Changing the rules abruptly was hugely unfair. The new budget would partially restore benefits for almost 500,000 elderly and disabled immigrants.
Liberals can gloat that virtually all the drop comes from lower defense spending.
Government isn't really in retreat. This is half common sense, half timidity. A last-minute dispute could cause the budget agreement to unravel. Chances are it won't. Either way, we're muddling along.