Unfortunately, the prime element in US politics which will ALWAYS dictate the agenda is the power and influence of the lobbyists, corporations and the enormous sums of money attached to all of it which in turn really determines policy. The groups in question during these debates are already jockeying for position and spending loads of money. Be it healthcare, defence spending, social security, the financial industry, oil companies and list goes on and on, it is easy to notice that during these debates on major budget items, they tinker and offer lip service but nothing really ever changes. After all, the politicians don't want to "bite the hand that feeds them". Despite the rhetoric, tax loopholes will never disappear either because that is why corporations, among other things, spend all that campaign finance money. The "Average Joe" doesn't have a chance.
Until the enormous sums of money required to run for office(along with the strings attached for that money) in the US are drastically reduced and the system is overhauled, don't expect any changes in policy and tone any time in the foreseeable future. The "perks" of power in US politics are just too good and as we can see no matter the consequences, these "perks" for most politicians are maintained at the expense of the American taxpayer and economy.
