Just a short but important point. In their "No New Taxes", "Reduce the Deficit" frenzy, Repbulicans are indeed raising taxes. As cuts trickle down, local taxes get raised to make up funds lost by the cuts.
In my state of Pennsylvania, the Governor has proposed cuts to schools, particularly schools in poorer neighborhoods. Who do you think ends up paying the difference?
How is this economy going to get going with everyone trying to scrape by, and then being asked to put out more to keep up basic services? Or, in the case of my husband and myself, and millions of others near or in retirement; holding on to our money because the future is so uncertain and we know no one is going to help us.