The federal deficit halfway through this budget year is at an all-time high, the Treasury Department announced Thursday, and the national debt is growing as well. But before we blame Washington politicians for their irresponsibility, stupidity and cowardice -- and we should -- we may want to look at another culprit: the American people. We, too, bear some responsibility for our $9 trillion federal debt and $50 trillion in governmental promises of future benefits.

Yes, cutting taxes and increasing spending is irresponsible, as is allowing Medicare and Medicaid costs to rise so quickly, as is failing to achieve a long-term fix for Social Security and retirement security, as is developing (and protecting) a Byzantine tax code and dysfunctional budget process, as is pork. Yada yada yada. Washington deserves a lot of blame for the growing national debt, despite some genuinely thoughtful and courageous leaders, and must take the lead in solving the nation's fiscal problems.

But we share the blame. We want lower taxes but more government services. We go to great and morally questionable lengths to avoid paying the taxes that we now owe. We want to stop working as early as possible and draw retirement benefits for as long as possible. 

New data from the IRS indicate how much cash the extremely wealthy are making-- and how little they are paying in taxes compared to middle class families. Progressives need to consistently emphasize this reality and the fact that all the priorities we care about-- health care, transit, jobs, energy independence -- can be funded just by making the very wealthy pay their fair share.

With working families paying income taxes, social security taxes, sales taxes, property taxes and other daily taxes, most would be outraged if they focus on the low tax rates paid by those wealthiest taxpayers. The Bush years have been bad for working families in many ways, but the flip side is that the inequality that has been fostered means that there are now easy opportunities to raise revenue in politically painless ways.

Some of the nation’s top economists warned that America’s long-term spending trends present a far larger financial crisis. Much of the reluctance to act is political, for few lawmakers want to be remembered for raising taxes or cutting benefits for constituents. This is especially true in a contentious election year.

Richard Kogan, a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said there would be no sweeping changes to federal spending patterns until the crisis grows more tangible—- and voters are willing to sacrifice in response. "You can’t do the right thing," Kogan said, "until you’ve got candidates who can win by doing the right thing. I think you have to wait for a new electorate."