It seems like Randi has discussed the idea thousands of times - different ways that our federal deficit and debt issues could be handled without having to gut the earned benefits of millions of Americans.

To start with, you take the wise step of closing massive tax loopholes, like Josh Harkinson from Mother Jones magazine recently did. We also recommend reading Fiscal Therapy, from friend-of-the-show and Pulitzer Prize-winning economic journalist David Cay Johnston.

We'll let you click over and read Josh's in-depth piece, but the headline savings are simple - and massive. Check out our brief tally of the potential savings for our government, below.

Ten Ways To Avoid The Fiscal Cliff

• Stop giving investors a sweetheart deal - Tax capital gains as ordinary income     
  Additional revenue: $533 billion over 10 years
   
• Quit subsidizing mansions and vacation homes - Lower or eliminate mortgage interest deduction    
  Additional revenue: $214.6 billion over 10 years 
   
• End the "step up" giveaway on inherited stocks   
  Additional revenue: $764 billion over 10 years 
   
• Revitalize the Estate Tax
  Additional revenue: $432 billion over 10 years 
   
• Heed America's favorite investment guru - Implement The Buffett Rule
  Additional revenue: $171 billion over 10 years 
   
• Reset back to Clinton-era tax rates for upper incomes
  Additional revenue: $442 billion over 10 years 
   
• Eliminate massive agribusiness subsidies to corporate farmers
  Additional revenue: $112 billion over 10 years 
   
• Eliminate oil & gas subsidies to massive oil companies
  Additional revenue: $158 billion over 10 years 
   
• Forget cap and trade: Impose a carbon tax instead
  Additional revenue: $1.25 trillion over 10 years 
   
• Stop giving corporations an excuse to hide profits and send jobs abroad
  Additional revenue: $583 billion over 10 years