I have the added advantage of experience as a farmer’s son which helps make it obvious to both me and countless other Americans that "farm subsidies" are Socialist “dope”, pushed by government elitists like “drug-pushers” getting farmers “hooked” on such “dope”, which thus in effect buys the votes, money, and power which those government elitists want.

Earmarks: Another name for "buying votes" which money and power-hungry politicians use to help fuel their "gravey-train" of votes, money, and government power.

(Government) Overpayments: Not entirely unrelated to another government spending spree which happens near the end of each "fiscal year", (as those of us how have been or are in government service can verify), known as "We'd better hurry up and spend all this extra money, or else we may not be able to get as much or more next year!"

Corporate welfare: Writing also as one of those who has been or is in business, and who doesn't allow anyone to "spoon feed" me information, the reality is that to Leftist/government elitists fond of “speaking out of both sides of their mouth”, like “man with forked tongue”, “Corporate welfare” is at once a favorite way for Leftists/government elitists to “buy votes”, and a favorite “issue” for them to demagogue and pander about as if they’re on a crusade against it. Do your own homework, and you will find that’s all true!

By now we should see that all of the above listed things are parts of a Leftist/government elitist "gravey-train" of ever more votes, money, and power for government elitists, and ever less money, power, and freedom for we the people.

Yes, many of us certainly could present more "non-essential items" to cut.

However, as long as we let Leftist/government elitist politicians get into office and in control, that doesn't present much reason to continue what is thus made a purely academic "wish list", and there's certainly no reason to expect Leftist/government elitists to stop such a "gravey-train" of ever more votes, money, and power for them at the expense of we the people.

After 20 years of “Country Club Republican” fraternizing with Leftist/Socialists in Congress, with eight years of Comrade “Slick Willie” Clinton and his Comrades inserted, and the coming years under an even more Socialist/government elitist Obama and Congress, we certainly should see that turning any such “wish list” into a “done” list will require electing a President at least as Conservative as Ronald Reagan, if not more so, and a truly Conservative Congress, devoted to the Constitutional principle of limited government, and nothing else has or will get it done.

And what would happen if the USA told China: "About those trillions and trillions of dollars we owe you, sorry we aren't going to pay you a single dollar"

Would this mean war? That's the only reason I could think of not doing it.