> The fact that "we" don't want to right now has more to do with Republican attitudes towards taxation than anything else.

No, it has just as much to do with Democrat attitudes towards spending. You're right that the Republicans are partly to blame. But to balance a budget requires cutting spending as much as, if not more than, increasing revenues. The problem is that ~everyone thinks using their preferred approach ("just raise taxes"/"just cut spending") is more important than getting the budget balanced, so they are unwilling to compromise. And the American people get the shaft, as ever.