People who want to take advantage of this year's gift-tax exemption should beware of one giant constraint: The Internal Revenue Service will deny tax benefits to a trust if the person who sets it up retains control, either himself or through an agent.

WSJ: How to Control Your Heirs From the Grave

Under this hard budget constraint, the rest of the government would have to live on whatever revenues are left over after debt service and Social Security benefits are paid unless Congress is willing to vote for more new borrowing, by super-majority vote if it wants to increase the debt more than the economy is growing.

FORBES: In Passing The Most Recent Budget, Congress And The President Lied