Perhaps it is time BOTH parties lay out DETAILED budget drafts. Since the two antagonists (i.e., parties) seem to be at a total impasse, it may be time for the public to weigh in substantively on the discussion. That requires access, though, to the details of each party's draft plan.

To our congress:  This should be that difficult and it is not rocket science, folks.  Get the damn deal done.  If you can't (by 'you' I mean, Boehner, Reid, Pelosi & McConnell) then step aside and let someone else sit down and hammer it out.  This display of stubborn arrogance by partisan politicians, concerned about who gets 'credit' or who 'wins' has past the point of absurfity.  Playing against the backdrop of the horror in Newtown should have opened the eyes of even those in congress to realize what is really important in life.  It's not about about which party platform or special interest or large donor gets their way.  It's about coming together, showing support and trying take some positive action which will begin to ease the pain.

Mr. Boehner has already give up more than he should. The relationship between the people of the country and its government is unfairly 'progressive'. Not only do productive people pay a higher fraction of their income in taxes, just about everywhere one looks, there is some penalty for making more money. Deductions for charitable contributions and state taxes go away as you make more money. People with even modestly high incomes can't contribute to Roth IRA's, and so forth. If someone has to be squeezed to fund the government, it should be people who currently don't pay any income tax. But since that ain't gonna happen, it is up to the House of Representatives to impose some spending discipline on this administration, and they should do that by appropriating less money for transfer payments.