The Federal budget was in surplus for the last three years of the Clinton administration. George Bush took office and proposed tax cuts. Chairman Greenspan approved, warning Congress that absent tax cuts (tilted toward the rich) the financial markets may within a few years be destabilized by a lack of Treasury securities [!]. Al Gore advocated a lockbox to prevent diversion of Social Security surpluses (generated in part by a raise in payroll taxes tilted toward the non-rich) to the general fund. Gore was rewarded with ridicule by Republicans, late night TV show commedians, and Sunday morning interview show hosts. War in Iraq and Afghanistan? Put it on the credit card. My recommendation: The Democrats should not be patsies. It is not their constitutional function to clean up after Republicans. President Hilary Clinton or Barack Obama should work with Congress to pass needed social legislation (universal health care coverage, etc.) and not worry to much about the deficit. John McCain certainly won't. Paul