What is a fair distribution is a subject debated by social philosophers for centuries and they are not quite done. The best the White House can do is to ask all interest groups to yield one or more of their main privileges. All the oxen must be gored simultaneously if the public is to feel that the pain is widely and fairly distributed. However, only if scores of interest groups will squeal all at one and the same time, will the public see and believe that the burden is widely shared. Consult the public directly .
Studies show that when the public is truly consulted, it is much more willing to slash deficits.
These are groups of 18 to 24 individuals, selected by civic leaders to represent the demographics of the country, that conducted three to five day deliberations on the budget. Even when citizens were involved in a less intensive manner, providing information and above all asking for their specific advice was still highly effective. The answer, granted, is somewhat far-fetched. Imagine that after consultation with Congress that the President addressed the public one Sunday afternoon. Instead of merely exhorting us to sacrifice, he would outline, say, three alternative ways in which the deficit might be curtailed.