Robert J. Samuelson reminds us in the latest Newsweek that the presidential contenders are ignoring one of the most important issues this nation faces: How are we going to pay for all the government programs the politicians think we want?

What we get is government by accretion. Government acquires more and
more functions, because no one dares strip away any of the existing
functions. People, states, localities and industries think they have a
moral entitlement to their tax breaks, benefit checks, subsidies and
spending programs. No one’s Social Security or Medicare benefit can be
reduced or modified, even if the recipient is wealthy and the cost is
undesirably high. Outmoded or ineffective programs cannot be ended.
There is an unstated presumption that the gradual growth of government
is unthreatening to the economy, and although this was arguably true in
the past, it may be less so in the future.