Well Said, Bernie Sanders!

[Jonathan Whatley]

What needs to be cut is spending - all across the board, no exceptions. Just like with a family that suddenly finds itself unemployed, things that aren't absolutely critical should be slashed to the bone and everything else should have a flat 10 percent taken off the top.

10% off family medical expenses? 10% off housing? 10% off auto fuel spending? 10% off auto maintenance? No exceptions? Even if your daughter is sick, or you're in one of the thriftiest apartments short of something dangerous already, or you barely use the car for anything but looking for work in an area with severely limited or no public transit service, or the car you're using to look for work proceeds to conk out?

A family that was spending heavily enough to start with may be able to absorb an across-the-board cut in many areas, reasonably well.

But beyond a certain point, the only way you're going to save money with a truly "across-the-board, no exceptions" spending cut on your family is when your family leaves you. And there can be some consequences after this that could be much less conducive to spending cuts in turn. :p