If Not Now, When? The Crisis is Here!
Who Will Fire the Shot Heard Round the World?
By Stephen Flanagan, Conservative Society for Action
Stalled talks about the national debt ceiling and cuts in spending are proving that politics as usual will mean the inevitable collapse of the U.S. economy.
As a young college student and later as a small business owner, I read about the Soviet Union's numerous five-year economic plans. I thought it funny that few of the plans ever worked. Their five year plans rarely lasted five years. Most were replaced after only a few years because they were failures. I laughed when I heard they would try another.
The Soviet Union finally collapsed under the weight of a huge bureaucracy that was unsustainable. Even in a country where there was ONE party and no political debate, the bureaucracy still ruled.
Now talks from Washington between an incompetent president and hapless Congress boast about a Ten Year Plan to reduce the deficit. There's no plan to eliminate the deficit, just to reduce it. That alone indicates that we've giving up.
I have often said that the Left is better at governing than the Right. The reason is that the Left has no problem lying about its positions and in using absolute power. Remember that it was the Democrats that controlled Washington in the last two years. There were super majorities in the House and the Senate and they controlled the White House. They acted ruthlessly by sweeping the Republicans aside. They won and they took full advantage of that win. That's why we have Obamacare, huge deficits, debt forever and unelected czars controlling every facet of our economy.
The House is now controlled by the Republicans. They cannot yet override a presidential veto and they cannot win in the Senate. That is a very difficult situation, but it is the House that controls the debate about the debt ceiling and spending. So far, all we have heard about is a grand compromise that includes "taxing the rich" and "hands off social security and Medicare".
The other great proposal? A smaller increase in spending. Look up the words "smaller" and "increase" and then figure out that meaning. Republicans on the weekend talk shows all seemed to agree that we will still increase overall spending but that they want smaller increases.
An increase is an increase! Federal spending is up 24% in the last three years. STOP!
The entire mentality in Washington today is to talk and do nothing, but even the talk has become meaningless. Here's a quick translation of Washingtonspeak":
"Reduce the rate of spending" = "The increases will continue"
"Deficit reduction" = " The deficit will continue"
"Revenue enhancement" = "Tax increases"
"Tax the rich" = "I have no guts to make real cuts"
"Fairness" = "Everyone who currently pays taxes will pay more"
"Private jet" = "Only union leaders and politicians can fly them"
"Financial crisis" = "My campaign war chest is low"
I have heard NO ONE talking about real cuts in total spending. Republicans in the House feel backed into a corner because the president has promised to expose them for protecting the rich and for "throwing Granny under the bus". The Democrats ALWAYS accuse Republicans of this and they always will. For House Republican to somehow feel intimidated by this just proves how timid they've always been.
Where are the statesman? Where are the leaders? Why is the Tea Party standing on its own?
The crisis is now. A ten year program of deficit reduction guarantees future deficits. It is time for Republicans in the House of Representatives to stand up for something. The time for talk is over.
There needs to be a shot heard round the world!
It is time to finally say "no" and let the chips fall where they may.We simply don't have ten years left.
Sincerely,
Stephen Flanagan, Founder-Director
Conservative Society for Action
csa.flanagan@gmail.com
