Am I the only one who believes the Republicans share near equal blame with the Democrats on this problem of debt? The true difference between the parties is no longer one believes in small government and the other believes in big? They just pander to the groups that send them money?
When confronted with the fact the democratic Congress and democratic President ran up trillion dollar/year debt is the reasonable response, well the previous president and congress ran up big debts and started illegal wars? This is a visceral response, but at least the first part is accurate. The Republican Congress and Republican President did precisely that. The only difference is their bigger government was in defense, the current president's bigger government is in welfare (I include the mandated healthcare), while maintaining the bigger government of the previous administration.
In 2008 I had hoped the Democrats of the 110th Congress would learn from the failures that cost the Republicans control, but they did not, as a result they lost the House in 2010. When you pass legislation so distasteful compromise is not possible are you really doing the best for the country?
As long as Democrats continue to keep the debate at the emotional level, making vague promises of change, and Republicans continue to talk about debt reduction as if it were a Democrats fault can we really get into serious solutions?
The Republicans are now floating the idea of a Balanced Budget Amendment. Finally -- something that would force fiscal responsibility. Others have said 49 states require balanced budgets, why shouldn't the US Government? I agree. I would go one step further and include in that amendment the loss of pay and entitlements for all elected officials in the Congress and Executive if they fail to pass and sign that budget by the first day of the new fiscal year.
2 comments:
I definitely do assign blame differently. One side lacks courage to do what they know they should because they know they'll be called sexist, racist, grandma-killers. Does this excuse them? No, they need to be willing to do the right thing anyway.
The other side lacks honesty about what it really wants to accomplish - a country where the government will take care of people and ensure just outcomes. Getting what they want is inimical to this country's founding document and to what most people perceive as being American. Yet, we continue to march towards it.
Included in both sides are corrupt human beings who are looking to make a buck or get into other people's pants. Included in both sides are human beings who don't really accept the full breadth of their side's vision.
So no, I don't think both sides are equally responsible. And the only way out of the mess is for the one side that is bent on destroying the fundamental nature of this country to be rebuked and punished on election days. That won't guarantee anything, but it will open the door to solutions.
What one party domination has shown is arrogance and growth (on both sides). When I was younger I thought to have a mandate you needed a clear and significant victory over the opposition. Now mandates come in 1% victories.
While one party seems to be selling the visions of a false prophet, the other is also pandering to its base. Gone are the days were a centrist government balances regulation with infrastructure growth with defense and social programs.
Rare and inadvertent are the times balancing the budget is achieved, and I would guess it has never been the goal.
We need smaller government but there is one axiom in the government. Once a program has been created it is next to impossible to kill it. The V-22 is an example of how hard it is to stop a poor design. Three Secretaries of Defense tried, none were successful.
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