Structural deficits are a very serious problem. Neither party has any credibility on this issue. If the Tea Party can scare our politicians straight, like Ross Perot did briefly, that would be good. But I don't think they can. For one thing, the Tea Party ("Taxed Enough Already") isn't serious enough to specify what could be cut in sufficient amounts to make a significant difference or understand that the revenue side can't be ignored. Taxes will have to go up, even if spending can be cut, to really attack the problem. If the Republicans take the House, maybe divided government, and the winding down of the two failing occupations, can restrain spending; but I don't see anyone brave enough to propose tax hikes. We'll still keep piling up debt.