Sunny Side Up

I have been reading the polls recently, both in Idaho and nationally, and they tell a similar story not only across the boundaries of the states, but also one familiar to those who have followed such matters over time: the public wants to cut the budget deficit, but does not want to either cut spending or raise tax rates. How, then, are politicians to act? If they are what is known in the political science world as "delegate representatives," then they will act on the wishes of their constituents...and do nothing about the budget deficit. This may not be the worst action, either, because the public has failed to place the national budget deficit as a top priority for legislators. I don't expect deficits to fall any time soon, nor can they so long as government spending is a economic stimulator, of sorts. State governments have a different end to their budgetary tale, so long as their constitutions mandate balanced budgets (as is the case in Idaho). Hence, the extreme tendency of politicians toward incrementalism, neither raising taxes greatly nor lowering them dramatically, and neither cutting or raising spending in either draconian (beyond 20% of the budget, for instance) or megalomanaical fashion.