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I agree with Mr. Lawrence. Higher income taxes on the affluent are needed, as is a national sales tax to fund programs to benefit multi-generational welfare. In addition, increase taxes on capital gains and dividends. At the same time, we need to make it easier and less stigmatizing to access government assistance. Oh wait, we already have that model. It's called the State of Rhode Island. You know, the only state in the east that lost population in the last ten years. See, people of means have options. And they vote with their veet.

Not that RI would ever embrace a modicum of sanity, but how about this: A national flat income tax of, say, 18%. Eliminate most deductions, including the mortgage interest deduction, and replace it with a home equity tax credit; the more equity the bigger the credit. Such a measure would incentivize equity instead of debt. Eliminate the federal departments of education, energy, and commerce and reduce Section 8 housing, food stamps, and medicaid by 10%. Reduce the military budget by 5%. Eliminate all ESL programs. Tax capital gains at 0% for those families who make under $250k, and 10% for those who make over that. Don't forget, if you want more of something (e.g. poverty) subsidize it. If you want less of something (e.g. prosperity), tax it. Freeze all federal hiring, and implement rigid work requirements for all recipients of welfare. Do this only if you are prepared to see equity markets (aka your retirement account and pension funds) skyrocket. Then again, this is RI, where we'd much rather rely on government than ourselves.