Federal Deficit

So the United States of America has a rather small federal deficit. Just how do you start to tackle it . . .

1) Make government smaller - this means cutting jobs, potentially from essential civil services.

2) Lower the salaries of government workers.

3) Raise taxes - you pick it: sales tax, income tax, property tax, etc.

4) Cut government programs that are non-essential.

Unfortunately, ALL of these actions (and others unnamed here) will anger certain groups of people. So when you have a problem as BIG as the federal deficit, you have to start somewhere. So the bigger question becomes . . . just which group of people do you tick off first? To make it a well rounded approach to fixing the deficit, all groups should take a hit to some degree, thus, leveling the playing field.

Now that's fine and dandy until it affects me or you personally. So how would I feel in that case? As usual, I'd just roll with it.

Any other broad deficit fixing suggestions? Chime in if you wish.