"Repeating the “we must cut” mantra without any accompanying meaningful ideas or rationalization on what to cut does nothing to contribute to a solution."

I disagree with you there, Ben.  The first step when one finds oneself in a hole is .... stop digging the hole!  Or, more precisely, recognize that you ARE in a hole.  Many if not most involved in this state budget debate still steadfastly refuse to recognize that fact.

As for "every $ spent in the state budget is important and/or essential to some group", again I must vehemently disagree with you.  Is every one of those dollars avidly sought by the recipients, who would howl if ANY of those dollars were cut?  Absolutely!  But that does not mean that they are "essential".  The fact is, as I have observed in my 20 years in Alaska, that there is a VAST amount of overspending and fiscal insanity in this coddled state, which was only made possible by the massive influx of oil revenues.  Times have changed, and so must we.

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