If you've been reading the news about our great and all-powerful Super Congress, you know that we're now at the stage where Democrats are apparently looking for the best possible way to acquiesce to all Republican demands in exchange for some promises of maybe getting something in return later, maybe, if the Republicans feel like it. The current trial balloon is to cut the crap out of entitlements and other government programs now, in exchange for an argument later over whether and how to raise taxes. During an election year.
No, really. I know it sounds like satire, but it's really being floated.