lambo
Austerity has recently shown both in Europe and here in states like Kansas that isn't the way to go. You need to grow your way out. You want to pay down the debt over a longer period of time by not using austerity to stifle growth.
As far as spending. Like most conservatives you cite SNAP and welfare, but fail to mention a real budget buster defense spending. Blaming the poor and citing programs like SNAP and welfare aren't going to get you anywhere as far as the budget goes.
The other huge budget busters are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid which is considered mandatory spending. Many conservatives want to cut or eliminate these programs while increasing spending on defense. Things like simply raising the cap on Social Security would go a long way in extending it.
It's worth noting that welfare was reformed back in the mid 1990's with bipartisan support (Clinton and Gingrich). SNAP, welfare and related programs (blaming the poor) are scapegoats for conservatives.
Also, you failed to mention the cost of the wars. Bush took them off budget. Obama put them back on the budget. Where was the outcry for that massive spending with no plan to pay for the wars?
Also, conservatives love to invoke Ronald Reagan as an example of austerity in government. In reality Reagan used deficit spending more than any recent president. Remember Cheney citing Reagan saying deficit spending doesn't matter with 'supply side' or trickle down / voodoo economics. Fortunately Obama was able to end Bush's tax cuts for the rich which added to the deficit greatly.
To summarize. Yes we need to start paying down the debt, but it needs to be done over a long period of time. And you do it through growing the economy not by austerity and risking recession.
Blaming the poor for our budget problems may make conservatives feel good, but again it's a convenient scapegoat.