1. The burden of proof re: taxation should always be placed on those who would tax, not on those who wish not to be taxed, and the standard of proof should always be "beyond a reasonable doubt."
2. The amount of debt should be determined by the productivity of the debtor. More productive people (or countries) can, and often should, borrow more, than the less productive.
3. When the borrower is not the one who personally bears the consequences of over-borrowing, too much will be borrowed.
4. When the lender is not the one who personally bears the consequences of over-lending, too much will be lent.
The fiscal issues of the United States are due to:
A. We don't do #1. We do exacty the opposite.
B. When it comes to public borrowing, we have institutionalized #3 and #4, and therefore #2 has become increasingly irrelevant to our borrowing/lending decisions.
Sorry, Troy, that's about as short as I can make it.
(and, again, I'm no kind of conservative, neo- or otherwise.)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)