Irreplaceable-Spark

To slow the rapid growth of the federal deficit, we must act now to control entitlement programs. Effective reform policies should balance both the positive and negative impacts of entitlement programs. Public agreement that a reform is needed, strong presidential leadership, and bipartisanship are essential to the successful implementation of restraining the growth in entitlement programs.

The open-ended nature of entitlement programs makes them a key driver of America’s budget problem. Though they always begin with a noble purpose, these programs become complex and costly, rarely target benefits well, and often undermine the self-sufficiency of recipients

Federal spending on entitlement programs has steadily increased to unprecedented levels over the last several decades. America has chosen to finance this spending largely by accumulating debt, rather than increasing taxes. This growing debt will eventually require us to cut funding from other government spending.