<Part of the problem seems to be a ratchet effect where government spending can never be cut regardless of economic conditions. In times of recession, many people have to get by with less income. Why is it seemingly impossible for government to do the same?

Excellent question.

The Federal government currently spends double> in constant dollars what it spent in 1974, at the height of the Cold War. Think about that for a minute or two.

I was there in 1974. There were no elderly dying in the streets, and everyone was eating pretty good. The population of the U.S. certainly hasn't doubled since then.

Yet calls to cut even the rate of increase in Federal spending trigger screams of horror from the politicians (mostly Democrats) who prophesy almost certain destruction of American should such a ghastly thing ever occur.

This amazing set of circumstances, and the accompanying load of self-serving bullshit on the part of the Federal government, makes absolutely no impression at all on liberals--seemingly hitting that neutrino-stopping mental block I have to deal with so often.