Independent Election Thoughts for 2010

I'm an independent voter. And as I contemplate who I will vote for I have some thoughts.

This fall's election ought not be about party or personality. It ought to be about tough decisions and choosing candidates who are willing to make tough decisions.

Unfortunately in this election neither major national party has the guts to go on record ready to make tough decisions. Oddly both parties have chosen George W. Bush as their scapegoat but for very different reasons. Blaming Bush is easy; but blaming him doesn't come even close to accepting responsibility for the actions of both parties that lead to our current state of affairs.

• The Democrats blame Bush for cutting revenues by cutting taxes without cutting spending. They seem to get that we need more money coming in. The Peterson Institute says that we will need both growth to actually meet the current debt obligations with the current tax structure and reductions in health care costs. Unfortunately the Democrats keep growing the government showing no sign of shrinking it significantly (to the point where current receipts or current receipts plus tax increases will pay the tab) and there's no evidence that health care costs have started to decline as a result of the first round of reform.
  
• The Tea Party folks blame Bush for spending on medicare drug benefits and the TARP plan. The concern of the now fiscally responsible GOP comes after years of endorsing Bush's plans. It's easy for Republicans to say they get that government has to shrink but they have no specific plan just like Bush had no plan to create a smaller government. The GOP may say that the debt is a problem but they insist against the most basic principles of economics that our economy will grow enough to pay the debt.
  

Could we please get serious as a nation? The debt is in the trillions and will not go down because of the GOP's best wishes for sky high growth or because of a little tax hike by the Democrats. Here's what I am looking for.

1. Someone has to pay and the sooner that repayment starts the better. That means a tax increase (ideally a progressive Value Added Tax) is in order.
2. The sooner health cost reform happens the better. Once costs stop increasing we'll finally see the debt stop growing.
3. Someone who will tell me what cuts they will make in order to make government smaller.

Maybe I am dreaming; but hey it's this kind of honest conversation that will save the republic from bankruptcy.