I think the campaigning this year has really gone over the top in terms of pandering to the public. The candidates seem to be more blatent in trying to buy votes with government giveaways, etc.

http://www.politibyte.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=36&mode=thr ead&order=0&thold=0

On the one hand the Democrats chastise Bush obout his "out of control" spending on the war; yet, they propose even more spending on entitlements. I guess they are not really against the spending, just on the program that it is being spent on. The Republicans are not much better as they are promising tax cuts when reality dictates that we really should pay off these debts that we have accrued. Tax cuts in this environment really are just a small step above the outright entitlements that the democrats want to give. There is no one speaking responsibly about what we should do. I believe we need to get this war behind us (either win the thing or get out) and let's spend a few years focused on paying down our debt. It's not glamorous, but it's the right thing to do.