An Unbecoming Game of Chicken

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

About the best that can be said of the one-sided new debt-ceiling deal is that Tuesday came and went and the world didn't end.

Beyond that, there is little reason for celebration - unless it's the kind of relief the innocent parties might feel upon being at least tentatively liberated from an ugly hostage situation.

That's pretty much what we've just been through: a hostage standoff in which the full faith and credit of the United States of America was tied up and held captive in a basement somewhere by radical congressional forces who refused to compromise until their own unyielding ideological ransom demands had been met.

In the end, the Obama administration and Democratic congressional leaders, who had held out for a reasonably balanced economic package that included increased tax revenues from the rich as well as cuts in social programs benefiting the rest of us, simply caved.

A Lopsided 'Compromise'

The result is a monumentally unbalanced package that's all cuts and no new revenues - in spite of warnings from many of the country's best economic thinkers, who say cutting government spending is exactly the wrong thing to be doing in dire times like these.

Be that as it may, what columnist Paul Krugman bemoaned as "Obama's disastrous surrender" seems certain to produce bad short- and long-term social and political consequences in addition to any economic ones. A dangerous precedent has been set, an unmistakable message sent: If you're willing to be ruthless and put all civility and compromise (a dirty word now) aside, if you're willing to put your own political dogma first and place the national welfare at stake, then you can get your way.

Sorry Spectacle in World's Eyes

The raising of the debt ceiling, however you might think about it, has been a routine event dozens of times over the years - including a half-dozen times under President Ronald Reagan. Never before have any political forces seen fit to hold it hostage in this way for purely political reasons.

The contending parties and sub-parties were eyeball-to-eyeball for a long time, and it was unquestionably President Obama who blinked.

In analyzing the president's motivation, one TV commentator invoked the biblical Solomonic dispute over the baby. This observer compared the Democrats to the real mother, who loved the baby enough to give up her claim in the face of the false claimant, who wanted to win so badly she was willing to see it cut in half just to get her way.

That may be far-fetched. But in the final days, as the deadline loomed, Obama fell oddly silent and it became largely an internecine struggle within the Republican Party. House Speaker John Boehner, who at one point was looking practically moderate (another dirty word), himself ended up surrendering to his party's own reckless tea party members, who wrap themselves in the flag while doing their country great mischief.

Among the many consequences of this protracted, all-too-public spectacle is that it has given a very black eye to a country that has already lost too much standing in the view of the rest of the world. As days have dragged on and displays have grown more childish, the greatest nation in the world has begun to look more and more like some kind of posturing banana republic.

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JimHeim 1 year, 9 months ago

The tea partiers have chosen America's future; the loss of our AAA rating, rising unemployment, rising interest rates, more expensive car and home loans (not to mention credit card costs), and an economy headed for another recession. For at least a generation this country will suffer slow growth and increasing poverty. And add to that rising health care costs and skyrocketing higher education costs.

There is no good news here.

Sean 1 year, 9 months ago

Uphill!!...... Both ways.

DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago

In other words, nothing has changed.

TreadLightly 1 year, 9 months ago

In case you didn't notice, the choice of the tea party DID NOT PASS. The Reid compromise is exactly what they wanted.

In case you didn't notice,we have never really gotton out of the first recession. A recession during a recession is called a depression. Maybe that will shut the tea party up!

teufelhunden 1 year, 9 months ago

Drama

Amazed 1 year, 9 months ago

this was a campaign move...had the Democrats truly cared for the 'baby', they would've passed a budget over the past 2 years when they had control of both houses. Now they can campaign and say that they didn't do it.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

What baby? They all aborted it they day they were elected into office.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 9 months ago

With a 14T and climbing national debt it is laughable to keep hearing "its the teaparty's fault" in relation to the dire situation we find ourselves in. It is also laughable to hear anyone say we don't have a spending problem. If our credit rating falls or if this country is plunged into a depression we will have career Washington politicians to thank on both sides of the aisle and past presidents of both parties. It is way past time to get serious about our national debt. A handful of politicians mostly Republicans get it and the Democrats waste no time in disparaging them for political gain. It is beyond shameful. This issue should transcend politics. This issue is as likely if not more to be our national downfall.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

It is really funny how some putting blame on the Tea Party, when they didn't even exist when the US got so far into debt. At least they are standing up and saying "Enough!!" and have got the backbone to fight for it. The Tea Party is not putting the US into default, you did, they are just trying to stop it.

fugitiveguy 1 year, 9 months ago

Likewise it was beyong shameful when the president said he could not be sure SS checks would go out if the debt ceiling wasn't raised. It represents one of two things, either it was a bold faced lie meant to evoke fear (dare I say fear mongering?) or either he is truly clueless. No matter what I think of his policies he is far from clueless. This was a prime example of not letting a crisis go to waste. How do you negotiate with such underhanded tactics going on?

Arestorer 1 year, 9 months ago

To do what the middle wants is political suicide......WE NEED TERM LIMITS!!

fugitiveguy 1 year, 9 months ago

I would tend to agree with you. However I have some new hope in the form of what the govs of NJ, WI, OH and MI are trying to do. My hope is that by the time they come up for re-election it will be so evident that they chose the right course that the lies and distortions from the left will be meaningless.

DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago

The claim that appears in this column and that you hear so often about the routine increases in the debt limit over the years, particularly under Reagan and Bush often leave out one very important difference. Until this go round, the debt limit increase had always been attached to another bill that was sure to pass, like defense appropriations bills or the "National Give Everyone a Puppy" bill.

This time, the debt limit was broken off into a standalone bill. Kind of makes sense to do that, don't you think? Isn't the national credit card worth a discussion on its own merits?

And now, all of a sudden, we are seeing stories like this http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/business/aaa-rating-is-a-rarity-in-business.html?_r=2 that say the loss of a AAA rating is not the end of the world. As always, our press has not served us well in this debate.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

Here is how I would characterize the Parties (Democrats, Republicans, Tea Party & Obama) involved in passing the budget in terms of a “Family of Four” doing the same: Democrats – Since our income is fixed and we still want buy what we want, we’ll have to borrow on our 4 new pre-approved credit cards, use those to buy more things and pay the minimum on our current credit cards, however, we’ll have to pretend we are Robin Hood and rob from the rich to pay them off. Republicans – Since our income is fixed, we’ll have to survive on only what we need, tear up the 4 new pre-approved credit cards, pay the minimum on our credit cards and stay the course. Tea Party - Since our income is fixed and we want to reduce our debt, we’ll have to get by on essentials only, pay off our existing credit cards and pay with cash only. Obama – Ok, we’ll use the 4 new Pre-approved credit cards and I’ll let you decide what to buy & what to pay.

HillTopper 1 year, 9 months ago

The press is a big part of the problem! What happened to the days when they just reported the news and didn't try to slam every Tom, Dick and Harry's frickin' opinion down our throat.

buddysmith 1 year, 9 months ago

from what i understand they have agreed to spend less money than what they would have, money which we dont really have. so instead of spending 6 trillion, they only want to spend 2.5 trillion, this a savings of 3.5 billion. so, pat themselves on the back, they have saved our country 3.5 billion???? HMMMM, so I have a credit card, which i owe nothing on, with a credit limit of 10,000. I can tell my credit card company I was going to spend all 10,000 next year on the card. instead I decided to only charge 5000. will the credit card company send me a check for 5000, which I saved and didnt use, so we can be even???

buddysmith 1 year, 9 months ago

oops meant 3.5 trillion!!!!!!!!!!!! keeping up with this government math gives me a headache!!

DaveyNC 1 year, 9 months ago

All we did was cut the baseline from $46,055,000,000,000 over the next ten years to $43,655,000,000,000. See analysis here: http://goo.gl/sluwu Somehow, JimHeim sees this as a threat to our country's social programs.

Any business with too much overhead eventually bogs down under its own weight. That is what is happening to us with this kind of budget. All we've done, as Rand Paul says, is continue racing towards the edge of the cliff at 60 MPH instead of 80 MPH.

If you haven't heard of the Mack Penny plan, take a look. Simple and logical. It came to light late in the debt limit debate, but it is certainly worth consideration. See here: http://goo.gl/70wqw

moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago

The Tea Party didn't ge twhat they want?! Well, Yes and No. They DID get to take those extra LAME Republicans for a very bumpy ride down the drain and a ride I found very amusing. They DIDN'T get ALL that they wanted from this "DEAL" since what they wanted was to completely anihilate a government that they HATE. Back to the 1800's was where they wanted to take us all and to those old days of JIM CROW. If anyone had any doubts before I hope that you have none now. We are the LAUGHING STOCK of the world allowing these total idiots to dictate their predjudiced and hateful ideas in our Congressional Chambers. Only 44% of eligible voters took the time to vote in 2010. Those numbers will go drastically up in 2012 and hopefully those Tea Partiers will be sent back to their homes to contemplate their pathetic futures. It's going to take quite a long time now to recover from this nastieness they brought out into the open. President Obama will now have to spend even more money to help get us out of this debacle the rich and hateful have driven us into.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

No wonder things can never be accomplished & we fall deeper in debt - there is too much hate between parties, blame levied from one to another, trying to be like Great Britain and turn the US into a Class system

madstork 1 year, 9 months ago

MC7…not sure how many tea party people you have interacted with, but it’s clear it’s not the ones who will gather this weekend to promote the values of limited (not anihilate) government, responsible spending of the tax dollars they collect, and defense of the borders. If the TP’ers elected last term caused the status quo in Washington to show the ineptness of the process which they all have created, that is fine with me. For a child of the “peace and love” generation, you certainly carry a lot of anathema for a group. I believe that is called prejudice. You and Heim can form a club.

moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago

I'm just a "semi-involved" observer now. While I vote in every election, I don't go to demonstrations or to rally's. I even went to a few meetings of Moore County's Democratic Party several years ago but it doesn't interest me anymore. Moore County will only elect Republicans so I gave up which is VERY SAD because even I on a very few occasions voted for a Republican and an Independent. Madstork, it's the unbending teapots who are the ones who are inept and recent polls show that America can't stand them. Like I said before it's frustration not hatred. I don't understand the apathy toward our problems that so many Americans seem to be exhibiting. I'm NOT affected the way so many of them are and if I were them I'd be in the streets. I do know a very, very conservative Republican(my brother) and even he thinks the teapots are crazy. He's met up with a few of them around here and for him to think they're CRAZY is really something.

madstork 1 year, 9 months ago

Can you share that recent poll? Source?

madstork 1 year, 9 months ago

MC7 - 1000 adults polled by CNN...not what I would call a statistical anchorpoint for you to spew "America can't stand them (TPers)

CNN/ORC Poll. July 18-20, 2011. N=1,009 adults nationwide. Margin of error ± 3.

"We'd like to get your overall opinion of some people in the news. As I read each name, please say if you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion of these people -- or if you have never heard of them. The Tea Party movement."

Favorable Unfavorable Never heard of Unsure   
% % % %

7/18-20/11 37 47 4 12
6/3-7/11 35 47 6 12
3/11-13/11 32 47 7 14
12/17-19/10 37 43 7 13
11/11-14/10 38 42 9 11
10/27-30/10 37 37 10 16
9/1-2/10 36 40 10 14
4/9-11/10 38 36 12 13
1/22-24/10 33 26 24 16

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

I've been travelling around Pinehurst & Southern Pines turning over a few rocks, found the TPs and just told them to Stay - that there is no place here for you people. I immediately went home & took a long hot shower - the nerve of them, how dare they try to represent us!

moonchild7 1 year, 9 months ago

Gee, Courseaire have they really jumped under the rocks finally? Are they going to stay there...never to be seen or heard from again? They might represent you and a FEW others but they DO NOT represent the MAJORITY of Americans. Only 41% of eligible voters voted in the 2010 elections. Here's another "Fun" statistic that I just read that's in complete contrast to what's been said OVER and OVER here in Moore County. That the Poor and Low-Income who pay no taxes; that they need to get busy and get to work so they can get on the road to becoming Millionaires and start paying most of the taxes that are supposedly keeping our country afloat. Well, NEWS FLASH! The IRS reports that in 2009 over 1470 MILLIONAIRES paid NO INCOME TAXES! How is that possible? After all, the TEAPOTS have argued that they are the bread and butter of our country while the rest of us seem to only be RESIDUE? Close them down. Maybe instead you guys should open up little Tea Shops to sit around in so you can spread your craziness between those smaller walls instead of out in the open air where the stench got out of control.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

No, they didn't jump under the rocks, that's just where they ended up after ya'll stoned them. You'll find that the 1,470 millionaires paid no income taxes (taxes $$ wasted by the gov't), because they were smart enough to reinvest their profits/capital back into the economy. Don't be fooled, though they may not have paid income tax, they certainly paid plenty of other taxes as well as provide jobs for the middleclass (so they could pay their income tax). You see, I credit all the middleclass taxes to the millionaires.

AbdominalDohMan 1 year, 9 months ago

Everyone just calm down. You won't have much longer to worry about this country. The days of the USA being the world leader is at an end. The entire world will soon be one (using sarcasm) "happy" family where everyone will go skipping through the clover fields merrily singing songs of joy because all people are living equally. Unfortunately that equality will be third world level and you won't even know it until it's to late. HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!!!!!!!!

JER 1 year, 9 months ago

Why would you assume the "equality" would level out at a "third world level"? If everyone on earth had a job, a home, food on the table and a little time to enjoy life, I would think that everyone would indeed skip through fields of clover singing songs of joy. What you're concerned with is that for this to happen, some of us will need to take a little less so that others can take a little more. Instead of one guy making a zillion dollars a year, we have a billion guys making a living wage. Unfortunately, this system goes against the religion practiced by way too many of us, the worship of wealth. You might think Christianity is the most popular religion in our country but it's capitalism that we worship.

Courseaire 1 year, 9 months ago

Yes, we all pay sales tax, however, the poor & low-incomed pay more in voluntary tax than they pay in sales tax. Oh, they love the Lottery. tobacco & liquor.

AbdominalDohMan 1 year, 9 months ago

Your are absolutely correct sir...VOLUNTARY

AbdominalDohMan 1 year, 9 months ago

Moonchild, You act as if when someone you consider rich goes shopping, they don't pay taxes. Sales tax is the one thing that everyone pays equally. That's why I advocate for the Fair Tax plan. Income tax is done away with and everyone pays a federal sales tax when they purchase something. No loopholes, deductions, or favors from power hungry politicians from every affiliation. If you truly are advocating equality, then study this plan and press your representative to support it or vote for someone who will.

An Unbecoming Game of Chicken

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