Why can't the government tighten their belt also?

You are right on every point. However, the government really doesn't care about the little people, look around, you can't find a single congressman who isn't worth at least one million dollars(and they only get paid around150 thousand annually, so just take a guess as to where that money comes from). Since these financial problems wont affect them, they don't care about them. With the health care bill, they have all always been guaranteed one of the best health care systems in the country until they die, just for sitting in a chair and voting, even if they are only there for a day. Thus, they don't understand how these things work for those of us who actually have to pay, and have to deal with annoying health insurance companies who think they know more than the doctors.