Ain't politics wonderful? Watching John Boehner and Barack Obama duking it out in the main bout, with plenty of preliminary bouts between other politicos, on the federal budget. It's the old game of chicken: one pushes the other to the edge of the cliff. In the meantime, we spectators sit there and watch, wondering if we will have an operative government or will Washington shut down for a few days.
I almost feel sorry for John Boehner (but only with crocodile tears) as he tries to play a balancing act between responsible Republicans and the Tea Party wackos who keep pushing him for more and more cuts and less and less government---the proverbial rock and a hard place.
OK, we all agree we have to get a handle on the deficit, but the other part of that rock and a hard place is the need to stimulate the economy and create jobs. First things first. since I'm dealing in proverbs, and the revival of the economy comes first.
But we are going to continue to play chicken with lots of sonorous soundbites from both sides: "sound and fury, signifying nothing." It's the way the game is played, folks.
I hope I'm wrong, but i think the government will close for a few days. Occasionally, though, politicos surprise me---not often---and do the right thing.
Stay tuned.
The right thing has become lost in the partisanship.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me the best government has most often come from compromise, the best that could be hammered out at the time, when both parties earnestly try, not in the glare of publicity, but behind the scenes, to get what's best for the country. Of course the tea party hasn't always been involved. They have shown little tendency or know how to work with others or to comprise. Coming fresh off a few victories, they still have the smell of blood in their nostrills.
ReplyDeleteThe third sentence above should have read, "They have shown little tendency or know how to work with others or to compromise.
ReplyDelete