Question

if most Americans favor cutting spending or raising taxes to balance the budget, why have politicians not taken either of these steps to do so?

Answer 1

Taxes (on the wealthy and on corporations) have been cut, substantially, over the last 30 years. Some taxes on working people have been increased, but the tax cutters are louder than those who would raise them. People, generally, don't like paying taxes. But, that's what I see