We are approaching a point of no return: Either we increase taxes, or we abandon the New Deal (i.e., Social Security) and the Great Society (i.e., Medicare/Medicaid).

Make no mistake, the deficits are essentially the product of the relentless drive to reduce taxes. Every tax cut beginning with Reagan led to enormous deficits. The difference now is Tea Party intransigence (or irresponsibility) on raising taxes.

And what have we gotten from lower taxes (principally for the very wealthy)? Lousy roads and schools, stagnant wages for most Americans, and a few people getting insanely wealthy.

We would do well to recall the destitution that typically accompanied old age before Social Security. We’d do well also to recognize that, with all its faults, Medicare is the best-run, most cost-effective health insurance enterprise in the United States.

The problems of most people in this country stem not from high taxes, but low wages, not from big government, but big business.

Eventually, even the Tea Party folks (well, not all of them) will probably figure this out. The question is whether it will be too late by then.