...if anyone thinks that a problem of this magnitude can be solved with spending cuts alone, they need to re-visit arithmetic class.

Oh, I know the arguments against "increasing revenue"...don't tax the job creators (even though they haven't created anywhere enough new jobs)...it's "income redistribution" (even though income and wealth IS being re-distributed by current policies, from the lower and middle classes to the wealthy)...economic growth will create more revenue (even though arithmetic shows that it would take 10% annual growth in GDP for fifty years to create enough new revenue to balance the budget).

No, ultimately we'll find that this problem can't be solved without tax increases as well as deep cuts in spending. Using your example of the family budget, it means sending the wife and kids out to get a job, regardless of the effect it might have on family happiness, recreation and the like.