TEARING INTO THE DEFICIT

Can it really be happening? For more than 30 years politicians have been calling for a balanced budget, as something it might be nice to have someday, if it could be done without hurting anybody. Such oratory, it has long been understood, is the accepted substitute for actually doing anything to bring federal spending back into line with revenues. But to set a hard date, fiscal year 2002, for cutting deficits all the way down to zero? And put real numbers on the table -- as much as $1.4 trillion less spending over the next seven years? And make specific suggestions...

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