M-Bear,

I think you took what I wrote too seriously, and I don't entirely disagree with your point. I was coming from the standpoint that we'll get either a Republican or a Democrat in just about every major political position and then was working backwards to what might work better within that. We know from the 2000's that full Republican control of Congress and Presidency is a disaster. We know from the last two years that full Democrat control is just as bad (guess who went further into the red). I'm not in the mood for a revolution, so some division of powers seems like the only way forward (or sideways). I do wish you a happy weekend.

And yes, I am in favor of letting all (or at least some) of the Bush tax cuts expire. It seems to me closing budget holes is absolutely necessary, and the fairest way to do that is a combination of cuts and shared sacrifice.

What's the alternative, armed insurrection? Way too much to be lost in that case. So let's get on with it. The Republicans are not wrong in pushing for closing the budget gap. One can only quibble with how to do it.

To put it another way: I see in your post a raging description of problems but absolutely no attempt to suggest a solution.