The idea that this pain is a joke is pretty unfounded. It is based upon the idea that there is waste and waste and waste everywhere. If that is the case, then it should be pretty easy to target such wasteful spending, but that isn't exactly the case at all.
Also, these cuts aren't even close to what are desired by a certain segment of law makers. If that desired austerity were to be put in place, and you think agencies at trying to make an examples now, their current examples would pale in comparison to what we would see.
If it is so easy to say an agency doesn't need to cut X when they can cut Y, then pass a bill cutting Y.
