Law

Sadly, we have seen the evolution (devolution) of the discussion of the nation's finances to a battle over government debt. And, with a passable imitation to two-year olds screaming "no" when faced with a healthy dinner option (in this case, a mix of revenue enhancements (mainly through reduced tax expenditures) and reasoned program cuts), the Republican Party (and its Tea-Hadist wing) have driven the nation toward the brink of one of the most profoundly flawed decisions ever in the national politics (yes, ever) that will create an illusion of reducing the debt on the future while, in fact, it fosters conditions that will worsen -- across essentially all fabric of society and the economy -- the debt burden that we are creating for ourselves and others into the indefinite future.

We have, in America and elsewhere, been living off our capital and borrowing off tomorrow (both near and long term) for too long.  And, the costs are coming home to roost -- and this agreement will only worsen these debts.

When it comes to the situation, today, the 'tea-hadists' have it right to focus the discussion about the future and the burdens we are creating for tomorrow. Sadly, however, their rhetoric doesn't confront the reality of the debts we are creating through our spendthrift habits.

We are living off our capital: our air, our water, our natural resources, our past infrastructure (schools, roads, rail, sanitation) investments, and, yes, even our fundamental fiscal credit worthiness.

This "deal" will exacerbate all of these. The government needs to present the world a rational budget and budgetary process.  The national economy needs stimulus, not budgetary cuts.  And, we need to stop eating up our capital -- of all types.  

Reality-based policies can do all of this and more.

See after the fold for just a few of the items that a rational policy world would be discussing and embracing that are simply not on the table in 'polite company' of Washington, DC, bipartisanship compromise uber alles world.

We should look for Win-Win-Win policies  that help put the nation on a more solid fiscal footing (WIN) while improving lives today (WIN) and creating a path toward a more secure tomorrow (WIN).  

(see W6: Win to the Sixth for a longer explanation)