That's nice, me too, but it's important to not drown out the conversation with deflection. Ultimately it's difficult to rally people behind one thing, nevermind multiple things. So policy discussions should focus on matters with high return

It's also easier for discussions accusing people of being wasteful slobs to degenerate into partisan mud slinging

Very good point. I think you're right. It's more likely to succeed with a pragmatic and undiluted message of targeting the worst offenders first.

Because it's like trying to get to Mars by both jumping really high and building a rocket.

Maybe jumping is the only signal politicians have that people are willing to pay for a rocket.

Exactly ... I'm incredulous as to why this is even debatable.