You're a public official whose plans for the budget exceed projected tax receipts. So what do you do? Get into the casino business? Perhaps; but there's some public opposition to that. Close tax loopholes? That could lead to some unforeseen economic problems.

How about spending smarter? That's what the Boston Globe had to say in an editorial published last month.

Could, for instance, more services be privatized? Could state and local workers' benefits be more closely aligned with those in the private sector?

Competitive contracting of government services (privatization) isn't the cure-all. For one thing, it can still leave government involved in things it has no good reason to be involved with. But it's a good start.