Super-Kaput

The dysfunction of the American government has never been so transparent.

With the so-called super committee kaput, more market instability looming and the distinct possibility of another recession, the absolute inability of Washington to solve the nation's fiscal problems is inescapable.

The task was not that difficult: cut $1.2 trillion out of the budget over the next 10 years to begin to reduce the $15 trillion national debt. The common-sense answer was obvious to ordinary Americans: trim entitlements slightly and increase tax revenues modestly. Combine that with an extension of the payroll tax cut and the soon-to-expire unemployment benefits and there is a good chance the recovery will accelerate. Repeal the senseless Bush tax cuts on the wealthy and the economy could step on the pedal.

But the super committee proved to be no more able to do that than the divided and dysfunctional Congress as a whole. So the blame-game has begun, with plenty to go around. It is a favorite sport in Washington, Capitol Hill's Thanksgiving gift to the nation. As predictable as a Redskins defeat.

The public will surely spread the blame, charging both parties with the failure, as well as the executive branch. As it should. The Republicans are likely to get the lion's share and pay the heavier price, but the Democrats, especially the so-called leadership, will pay as well. As it should.

President Obama will not escape this latest debacle. He may have been off in Asia reasserting the U.S. role in that region, but he wasn't far enough away from the disaster in D.C. to avoid his share of the responsibility. The painful reality of the president's current situation is that he has a plan: a jobs bill, proposals for an infrastructure bank, tax reform, etc. that would surely help, but he lacks the political chops to get it enacted. So, ill-served by a weak staff, he fritters around the edges of the problem. His base sticks with him, but the independents he needs to get re-elected are drifting away.

Nonetheless, from the Las Vegas bookmaker's point of view, he remains the odds-on favorite to be re-elected. Why? The disarray in the Republican field, mainly, and the growing sense among voters that divided government is part of the problem, not the solution. It is inescapably clear that in our system, as it functions today, real progress can only be made when one party or the other controls the White House and Congress.

It is up to be the public to decide which party should be in control. The voters need to give that party the political clout to pursue a solution. If the public doesn't like the result, they can change it in the next election.

But at least there could be movement, instead of gridlock.

Terence Smith is a Journalist. His website is terencefsmith.com

 

Comments

[nothingchanges]

08:35 AM on 11/23/2011

How can Government function, when nearly half of those running it, are working for it's destruction?

Over 95% of Republicans in congress (including 100% of the Super Committee) have signed a pledge to Grover Norquist.

A man who has publicly espoused ""I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub."

I thought the oath of office required that every person in Congress........ was to defend against "All enemies, foreign AND domestic".

Either I am mistaken in that belief, or nearly half of those now in Congress are betraying their oath of office.

[Jerry Lammers]

02:30 PM on 11/22/2011

Actually, the politicians have shown themselves to be far smarter than the rest of us. They will continue the charade of wrangling over a 3% reduction in spending over the next 10 years (which is totally meaningless). Both the Republicans and Democrats know that the only way back to solvency is the expiration of all the Bush Tax Cuts. Restoration of the Clinton Tax Schedules will restore fiscal sanity to Washington with neither side having to lift a finger. Under the Clinton Program, the economy was flourishing and the entire DEBT was projected to be paid off by 2012. There's no reason no to go back to a Tax System that worked.

Both sides can blame the other for the stalemate that will appeal to their bases. At the same time, a Tax System that works for us and them will be restored. This totally obviates the need for any changes to Social Security.

[spinotter11]

12:50 PM on 11/22/2011

The Democrats had the opportunity in 2009 and did not do enough to change course. The Republicans seem to care only for the wealthy. It's very sad that we have to choose the least objectionable candidate and the party that at least pretends better to care about average Americans.