GAO

Our Government's Accounting Office released a report today with some tough, but inspiring language. Talking about civic duty...

Simply put, our nation's fiscal policy is on an unsustainable course. As
long-term budget simulations by GAO, the Congressional Budget Office
(CBO), and others show, over the long term we face a large and growing
structural deficit due primarily to known demographic trends and rising
health care costs. Continuing on this unsustainable fiscal path will
gradually erode, if not suddenly damage, our economy, our standard of
living, and ultimately our national security. Our current path also will
increasingly constrain our ability to address emerging and unexpected
budgetary needs.
Regardless of the assumptions used, all simulations indicate that the
problem is too big to be solved by economic growth alone or by making
modest changes to existing spending and tax policies. Nothing less than a
fundamental reexamination of all major existing spending and tax policies
and of priorities is needed. This reexamination should also involve a
national discussion about what Americans want from their government and
how much they are willing to pay for those things. This discussion will not
be easy, but it must take place.

Read it here.