The President has already
compromised several times, but every time he makes a concession, the
Republicans want even more. He has proposed an orderly reduction of the deficit
by $1.6 trillion. Not good enough, say the dogma-driven Republicans. They want
even more. And they want it now. They are aware that if the tax cuts expire all
at once, the deficit immediately decreases, something that makes them drool in
ecstasy. However, almost every economist of every political persuasion says a
severe decrease in the deficit would lead the U.S. into an even worse recession
than the one created by the Bush--Cheney administration.
Behind a wall of political
gesturing, the Republicans are doing nothing, while blocking those who can do
something. John Boehner now acknowledges he is blocked by party dogma and can't
control the Republican majority in the House who want the government to several
cut entitlements while continuing all Bush tax cuts, even to millionaires who,
not surprisingly, make up the majority of Congress. Their actions are driving
America into fiscal cliff suicide.
The obstructionists in
Congress need to realize this isn't a deserted two-lane highway, and Americans
don't want the Republicans playing chicken with our nest eggs.
[Walter Brasch, a social issues columnist, has covered
politics and government for four decades. His latest book is Before the First Snow: Stories from the
Revolution.]
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