that s what the president did for a year and a half. no, he didn t. what was that exercise? that exercise, both sides, were pandering to the private health insurance lobbies. that resisted real cuts, in the costs of health care. that s what happened. so, steve, is the problem that republicans won t raise taxes? is that why we re at this impasse? it s part of the problem. the fact is when you draw a line and say i m not going to compromise, i m not going to do that. it does make having a budget more difficult. let me go back to something that mark mckinnon said. people don t want to cut medicare. if those folks who say they want to deal with the budget don t want to touch medicare, how do you get this problem solved? i think people are more ready than they ll ever be. dave walker? i ve been to 49 states, town hall meetings, college campuses, business community leaders,