>>Just once I'd love to have a candidate stand up and say "You want all these services? Here's what it costs and here's how many people are required to provide them. Now, are you willing to pay the price?"
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>Actually, there's one more factor, the cost of not doing it. Universal health coverage is one really good example. So is public education--costs a small fortune, but nowhere near as much as _not_ educating our kids.

True, but then for most politicians it's the "apres moi, le deluge". The consequences come when they retire, so they don't really care. Their look into the future reaches a couple of years, at best.