Although the Oil Spill may open heretofore closed eyes as to the necessity of a robust federal government to counter when necessary the reckless and insensitive behavior of global corporations, frankly the financial crisis failed to do so. In both cases voters saw the federal government as ineffective or complicit. Democrats understand the need to shift government priorities to education and alternative energy. What voters hear is "they want to spend MORE money!" The federal government and particularly Democrats need to capture the public imagination before the mid-term elections makes it worse. Thus, the 5% solution: cutting the cash compensation of every federal worker not in the armed forces by 5% immediately and redirecting the savings.
Wait hear me out ......