first, the people have to decide which direction the country needs to go, more govt, less govt, more spending, less spending, free enterprise, govt controls or take over of industries. we seem to be divided on these issues, core issues. if we do nothing, at some point, it will take care of itself and we will collapse financially and have to start over from zero. if all people, legislators will look at the debt clock, spend some time with it, then even those who do not know a dollar from a penny, will realize we cannot sustain what we have been doing for decades, hiding money, spending too much money, taking on programs we cannot afford and should not be involved with at all. some just want to do things that make them feel good even though it is not the right thing to do at all but, they say, we had good intentions. intentions, good or bad, don't cut it, common sense does. from my experience of looking, studying, a compromise is no good if they do not follow thru. have seen so many times where we have raised taxes and promised to cut spending but the spending cuts just do not happen so think that it is futile for any legislator to compromise on that issue but we do need to spend less, everyone can figure that out. if they do not figure that out, we will go down, no other way, then we will all be miserable not just a small percentage. no matter what kind of society one lives in there will always be those who struggle are at the bottom, could be mental illness, addiction, laziness, whatever but they will always be there. in other years, those people took care of themselves, maybe with some help from family members, their church and they pulled themselves out of it but today, they just look for someone to take care of them. T, our bud WA, told me about a woman who lives near them and that she was always complaining about not having any money to pay for the things she needed so he began helping her out but then one day visited her place and found a 60# flat panel and full direct tv and other stuff that a destitute person should not have a all and he cut her off immediately. that is one prob, no matter one's income, they seem to think that they still deserve the non-essential items that others have, live way beyond where they should be living. not throwing all folks in need into that pot but it does happen. everyone feels for those in need, especially if not their fault, have been there but you have to possess the will to fight, have confidence in yourself not the govt to pull yourself out and go on, not fall back on green checks for your entire life.