In order for us to begin the ascent from the current doldrums we must refrain from "giving the store away" meaning we have to filter out those who are abusing the system and putting us further in debt. We can start by drastically reducing the number those receiving benefits under false or calculated pretenses and there are plenty of those running loose and quietly bleeding the system dry. I've heard stories of young women deliberately getting pregnant in order to receive benefits & free housing and this goes on everywhere and they will simply tell you "it's what we do" and walk away laughing while the hard working taxpayer is played for the biggest "sucka" on the face of the earth. There are others who use different tactics to "get over" on our blessed system and this costs hundreds of billions a year and when added up over the course of a few decades the amount is even more enormous! We have an internal problem that has not been properly policed and we also have a problem with lawlessness & it's horrible. One can look at the New York Yankees for example. Listen to their 2 bit entrapping low balling broadcasters on any given day and see what the system has permitted to "run on" after complaints & charges have been filed. We also have problems with scam artist type crooked politicians like the censured Charles Rangel among others, who has yet to be removed and is making a mockery out of the state  of NY. The problems are so many because no one took the time to properly evaluate and install a working modus operandi and it's time we get our ship right & the time is now!