Americans are embracing the blend of fiscal prudence and social inclusiveness he advocated in his presidential campaign, former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas said in a speech to about 200 at the Kennedy School on Wednesday.

Tsongas, defeated in his bid for the 1992 Democratic nomination by then-Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, also predicted a "generational war" if the federal government fails to balance the budget.

Tsongas described himself as a traditional Democratic socially with a "Republican view of economics."

"And the fact is that I think this is where America is," Tsongas said. "The average American is inclusive but also believes in fiscal responsibility. My campaign was an attempt to live in both worlds."

Tsongas spoke at length about his plan for reducing the budget deficit. He developed it in conjunction with former sen. Warren Rudman (R-N.H.) as part of their Concord Coalition.

Tsongas said his plan would reduce the budget deficit from $251 billion to zero by the end of the century.

His plan would enact a series of taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and gasoline.

The plan would also eliminate various federal programs, including the space station and the supercolliding superconductor.

But the major component of the policy, Tsongas said, involves reductions in entitlement programs ranging from social security and Medicare to farm subsidies.

He said he advocates "means testing" entitlements, which would reduce or eliminate entitlement program payments to wealthier citizens.

Tsongas emphasized the importance of tackling the deficit immediately.

He said that the second largest expenditure in the federal budget, aside form entitlements, is interest on the national debt. And that debt, he said, has more than quadrupled since 1980.

Tsongas also said that the ratio of workers per entitlement recipient will fall from nine to one in 1970 to five to two in 2010.

"Eventually, the taxes on your generation become so horrific that you'll revolt," he said.

"What is going to happen in the United States by the end of the decade is a generational war," Tsongas said, writing the last two words on a chalkboard and underlining them foremphasis.

Tsongas said that his budget reduction plan canalso achieve universal health coverage.