Why The Deficit Will Never Go Away
Politics.  Politicians of both parties need to repay the special interests that helped elect them, and the special interests don't like losing their government perks paid for by taxpayers.  Here is an example from Econobrowser on the House's refusal to tackle $15 billion in annual farm subsidies, which sums up the dilemma when deficit cutting rhetoric meets political reality:

But the Agriculture Committee is dominated by members of Congress from farm states; Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., has reported $445,714 in political contributions from the agricultural industry during the course of his career, and ranking Democrat Collin Peterson of Minnesota reports $809,097 in career donations.