The math really isn't that hard. You have to cut a trillion now. You can't borrow money for 10 years on a reducing scale and save money. You have to stop borrowing money all together. If its not painful its not working.
The politicians were sent to D.C. and spent money in our name over the last few decades. It is our responsibility to feel the pain of paying it off. Then firing them all. They ran it up they need to be run out on a rail.
You also can't use cuts in automatic increases to save money later. It is a no-brainer they have have to go.