I usually hate it when politicians compare the federal budget to a family's budget. Do the Jones have their own nuclear arsenal and print their own currency? No. But sometimes it's helpful to take the big complex abstractions of the federal budget and humanize them a little. Therefore I give you: The Budget, A Brief History of the Last Decade As Experienced By: The Jones Family The Federal Government About a decade ago, you voluntarily reduced your income. You: Took a lower-paying job to spend more time with your kids Cut taxes (and then cut them again) But you didn’t stop spending. You: Bought a new car, a big screen TV, and renovated your home. Engaged in two wars overseas, promised to pay for seniors’ prescription drugs, and created a big new bureaucracy to protect the homeland. Then the recession hit and your income suddenly dropped for