Liberal thinking? A Liberal refrains from thinking outside the box. While a Conservative would be damned to do so. But, a Socialist...that's what they do. They think outside the box. Let's say we cut the budget to the extreme. We essentially take a pound of flesh from the system. We would still be in a position of exhausting our State's savings. In no time, the savings will be gone. Why? Because the proverbial "shit happens" and we can not predict when it will happen. Wildly unpredictable things may become more usual than we dare to face. That's the conservative logic that oozes from my pores. With no money left in savings, how do we fund the essentials? Answer: Taxes. So, what has been suggested by folks on all sides is that we take a preemptive strategic position to cut and tax...simultaneously. Negotiate to make it so. We see three options.

"Hit the one in the middle." -Paulie, quote from Rock IV