I think crisis starts with the government of Puerto Rico. It has to take measures to solve the fiscal problems that it has, which are very serious. It's very basic: it's the same thing that is happening in Washington.
New York State is upside down and backwards; high taxes and low performance.
Unfortunately, the (budget) does not . . . help Congress reform such programs as Medicaid and Medicare, which both grow at average rate of around 8 percent each year through 2015 and will continue to eat up more of the total federal budget.
Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.
I think making small movies reminds you of the effort. When you make big movies, the effort is to fight for freedom. When you make small movies, the effort is making the day, making the budget, and it's great, too.
My hope is that we can get a Republican-Democratic agreement on how we strengthen Social Security as well as looking at some of these other major expenditures that we have that we've got to deal with to make sure that we're not just leaving you guys with a mountain of debt.
The challenges presented by our budget crisis are some of the most difficult we have ever faced. We are - very simply put -adjusting to reality. These times, and our citizens, demand change.
I think the financial restraint really pushes me as a director to be more creative with the way I shoot the film.
