Entitlements traditionally have paid generous benefits--financed by affordable taxes--to the rich and poor alike, because the ratio of workers to beneficiaries has been high; those days are long gone.

A fiscal commission set to report after the next election with recommendations that are purely advisory seems designed to fail.

Ballooning costs for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are leading the United States toward fiscal crisis.

Criticsare not viewing the budget cuts in perspective; in reality, cuts areminor compared to overall$2.57 trillion budget.

If President George W.Bushis serious about fiscal responsibility, he needs to take a much stronger stance against wasteful spending.