"That brings up another similarity between Greece and America: that the necessary may be impossible, that baby boomer politicians in the age of Twitter may not be up to addressing problems this big. The hole is too deep and power too fragmented. The only way out is by collective action — where ruling and opposition parties unite, share the pain and take the necessary steps. But that is not happening here or in Washington. There are Eric Cantors everywhere — reckless baby boomer politicians for whom no crisis is too serious to set aside political ambition and ideology."
So now it's all Eric Cantor's fault.
I would remind Tom of the words of another baby boomer Democratic senator, who, on March 16, 2006, opposed George W. Bush’s request to raise the debt limit, declaring:
“The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. . . . Increasing America’s debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better."
That senator was Barack Obama.
Moreover, before pinning the blame on Cantor, Tom should read Paul Krugman's July 7 op-ed entitled "What Obama Wants" (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/opinion/08krugman.html?hp), where Krugman acknowledges:
"It’s getting harder and harder to trust Mr. Obama’s motives in the budget fight, given the way his economic rhetoric has veered to the right.
. . . .
Almost all the high-profile economists who joined the Obama administration early on have either left or are leaving."
Bottom line: The US is now a rudderless ship, captained by a man, who, as acknowledged by those closest to him, struggles to reach decisions. Obama is the ultimate example of a baby boomer, steeped in "political ambition and ideology," who should have known that he lacked the experience and emotional maturity to assume the reins of power.
An angry painful compromise involving the US debt ceiling will ultimately be reached. Moreover, if the dialogue forces the Obama administration to engage in serious soul searching and proffer concrete solutions to the budget deficit, Cantor's stubbornness will have served the nation well. Any attempt, however, to saddle Cantor with the blame for this quagmire amounts to politicized tripe of the kind that has come to characterize Friedman's column.
This is wonderful rhetoric, but overlooks the important fact that Cantor is refusing a compromise deal that gives him 85% of what he wants. While it's true that Friedman's "baby boomer politicians" thesis may be a red herring, let us not forget that people on the left - like the Krugman passages cited here - are upset with Obama for compromising too much and giving away too much of what the left values, while they are more disappointed in Cantor for being unable (or unwilling) to set aside the rigid ideology of campaign rhetoric in order to compromise and actually govern. In a democracy, one cannot successfully govern without the give-and-take of collaboration and compromise. The country knows this, which is why - in contrast to Cantor - 80% of voters think closing at least some tax loopholes should be part of the solution.
ReplyDeleteCantor and the tea party republicans pulling his strings are to blame for the breakdown in negotiations, and any attempt to conceal that fact is politicized, smoke-and-mirrors tripe.
Not that I am particularly impressed with Friedman's column, but you miss the point on Cantor. He is not presented as "the problem" - he is presented as a personification or representation of the problem.
ReplyDeleteCantor is an example of a politician who puts his own position, power and future economic rewards ahead of doing what is right for the nation. While that may not do much to distinguish him from other Members of Congress, it is a real problem.
Registered Independent and Aaron - thank you for your thoughtful comments.
ReplyDeleteI would observe that I am no fan of Cantor or any other politicians (apart from one former Congressman, who has been a dear friend for several decades); however, my experience when negotiating deals is that two sides rarely come to the table expressing an immediate willingness to reach reasonable compromise. The exigencies of time and the lack of viable alternatives ultimately bring about a deal, which in turn forces both sides to engage in needed introspection and examination of all the surrounding issues. This can be a healthy process.
Would you prefer that a quick compromise be reached without a painful examination of America's unsustainable debt?
Moreover, I favor closing "loopholes," but I also acknowledge that they are not going to make a dent in the budget deficit.
At the risk of annoying both Democrats and Republicans, any budget deficit solution begins with an immediate withdrawal of US ground forces from Afghanistan. This senseless war will cost the US a record $120 billion in 2011. This is now Obama's war, and it needs to end now.
You want to provide economic stimulus, create tens of thousands of jobs, and reduce the foreign trade deficit? Develop American oil shale resources . . . more about this in a future blog entry.
Jeffrey