Germany cut 5 years ago and is doing well compared to other countries, Spain, greece, Ireland are in serious trouble.

No one said austerity would be easy. But it is necessary, because the carnage that come from having obscene levels of debt is far, far worse. It is too easy to look at the temporary pain caused by spending cuts and declare that it was a mistake. But if one projects our current level of deficit spending a few years into the future, imagine if 50% of our budget was needed to service the debt? Imagine if rising interest rates cause that number to rise even further ? Forced austerity would make chosen austerity look like a walk in the park.

That's right. The flood waters are rising, and the GOP wants to save money by not buying sandbags. If they weren't also busy buying champagne for the guys with yachts I'd almost believe they were sincere.

I can't follow this reader's implicit view that "growth" vs. austerity can only come from the government. Pro growth structural reforms in Germany have led to ~8% youth unemployment. Compare that to Spain's 50% (not a typo), where it is next to impossible to be fired and unions throttle all hope of growth. A balanced approach of austerity and structural reform to allow businesses to invest, hire and grow will do much more for the health of our country than spraying taxpayer dollars (I should clarify, future taxpayers' dollars) at wasteful programs and ends.