Well, when you start paying off your bills instead of sitting around worrying about rich c***s that dont want to pay taxes, the deficit decrease.
Same reason why Norther europe are sceptical about the EU - the Nordic economies *WORK*.
Why the f**k should i pay more taxes because italy is corrupted and run into the ground by an obvious 70 YO psychopath? Why should i pay more taxes because Greece havent reformed their retirement system to a more sustainable economy?
If you stop living above your income and get rid of the f*****g bills, economy will sort itself out.
The best thing US and Europe could do, would be to move away from the "duuh?!?! we're in the red, but its gonna be ok" thinking. When a financial crisis hits the fan: Up creek without paddle.
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"It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring" (Carl Sagan)