Mike Pouraryan
OV Week End (3/13/2010): What's Wrong w/Washington
:
So what!??!?
The pundits have been at it over the last number of weeks to tell the world what is wrong with Washington. What is clear is that there is no courage to make the tough choices necessary to bring us back from the edge of the abyss. What the Economist depicted is absolutely right on. I am sure that Mr. Linclon will look at the cast of characters in Washington now and just shake his head in disgust.
Let's begin with a bit of a reality check. Dr. Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia laid out a very scary set of facts that is in the public domain. He reminded the World in his Time Magazine Article that the Federal Budget has a budget gap of 1.6 Trillion Dollars. That amounts to 10% of the gross domestic product of the entire country!!! The current growth of Public Debt Amounts to almost 60% of the Gross Domestic Product and is slated to grow to 70% of the Gross Domestic Product at the current rate of spending. The revenue being collected by the Feds goes to pay for the following: The military, Health, Social Social Services and Interest on the National Debt. That's about 17% of the intake. Everything else the Feds do is being financed out of borrowing. This includes Education, Homeland Security and all the other functions of the Federal Government. As for the deficit, it amounts to $ 4400 for each and every American.
In the midst of this perfect storm, both parties are sticking to their talking points. The Republicans are beating the drums of tax cuts, tax cuts and more tax cuts. Well, someone needs to tell them that tax cuts is going to blow up an already lousy situation. Presidential wannabes Like Mike Pence need to be able to have the courage to say that there needs to be an increase in order to provide the long-term viablity that is necessary. The Democrats also need to stop wanting to score political points by demonizing Republicans. The Republicans are not really helping themselves by simply acting as the Party of No. Their true colours and aspirations has been proven time and time again by changing the rules. Their latest talking point: Their campaign slogan to repeal healthcare.
Dr. Sachs called for Republican Statesmen to stand up to help change the paradigm. When I read his thought, my reaction was: yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah right!!! There needs to be a radical rethink of budget and tax policy in the United States and a real need to bring back a sense of fiscal sanity while preserving the best of the programs that have continued to make a difference. We can't do no less.
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