I don't ignore it. I discard it because it is not the primary factor.

There are budget documents online that are the sources for most of my numbers. This is a good one, particularly Table 1.3.

Spend some time on the history of our Federal budget in constant dollars. Notice that even with the lousy revenues of 2009, if we had a budget that was no larger than it was in 1997 - only 12 years ago, in constant dollars - we would be in surplus.

Look at how revenues have gone up over the years, and how fast. If the 2007 revenues had been applied to the 2004 budget, there would have been a surplus.

Spending goes up faster. Much faster. That has to be addressed first.

But if you want to deal with revenues, it wouldn't hurt to elect a president and Congress that aren't mortal enemies of capitalism and think the key to more revenues is to tax the hell out of the productive.