This week's presidential video address is not all that different from the last, reflecting stubborn intertia in the struggle to address our nation's budget challenge. Once again, President Obama presents the centerpiece of his argument for tax hikes: that the wealthiest Americans, including large corporations and oil companies, can sacrifice a few dollars in order to budget for priorities such as Medicare, scholarships and research grants. To me, this seems like a reasonable bit of logic, but somehow, the President's approach has managed to antagonize Republicans and Democrats alike. According to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Congress and the President need to figure out some sort of budget plan by August 2nd in order to avoid defaulting on the nation's debt. But as President Obama attempts to strike a compromise with Republicans, who remain unwilling to consider a single tax hike, he risks losing the support of Democrats, who are becoming increasingly suspicious of the President's motives and loyalties.
Some have written, as I mentioned in my comments under last week's post, that President Obama's rhetoric has sounded alarmingly conservative of late. In this week's address, the President announces again that we have to make sure "our government lives within its means," just as American families do. Liberals have good reason to fear the consequences of this notion; many before have fallen for the seductive populist logic that government should regularly and faithfully pay off its debt, including President Herbert Hoover during the Great Depression. The last thing we need as the fragile economy recovers is senseless, unnecessary government austerity.
Listening to the President speak during his weekly address and at last week's Twitter Town Hall event, I began to think about his comments in a context that might allow him a bit more ideological wiggle room. He frightens the left by saying the government needs to live within its means, a turn of phrase typically associated with thinly-veiled free-market libertarian nonsense. But in the context of a historic budget deficit and a weak economy, and even during less extraordinary times, a government "living within its means" will not resemble a responsible family or individual with that same approach. Never does the President suggest that we need to eliminate our budget deficit; returning to a Clinton-era fiscal state couldn't possibly happen anytime soon. But should government spend its money carefully and responsibly, investing in useful, well-run programs that hold the promise of future returns? Absolutely, and Republicans are lucky to be working with a president so willing to scour the national budget for opportunities to cut pointless spending. With any luck, they will realize their good fortune just in time to eliminate unhelpful corporate tax cuts.
Cross your toes, and maybe by next week, the President will be able to announce that things have progressed! And for an intriguing time capsule, check out this ominous piece written by David Leonhardt, published by The New York Times in 2009, detailing the nation's dangerous fiscal state and how it might erupt in the near future.
In today's press conference, President Obama shed some light on the difficulties he and members of Congress are encountering in their budget negotiations. If we take the President at his word, Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell do intend to raise the debt ceiling and are truly sincere in their willingness to compromise at least a little. Unfortunately, the remaining obstacle to progress is the powerful contingent of radical Republicans who still refuse to consider tax increases.
ReplyDeleteIt is starting to be clear why the President is investing so much press time in this matter. If he can convince a large majority of Americans that raising revenues by taxing the rich is the right thing to do, misguided and opportunistic politicians will have no remaining impetus to hold their ground and, with any luck, will not remember what they were talking about. Only then will Republican leadership be able to negotiate a sensible deal with the support of their party.
Checking today's news updates again, I was wondering if there's any for way people like me to help pressure the republicans and democrats into action. This stalemate is not what Americans are listening for every time they turn on the news.
ReplyDeleteA demonstration of some sort? Perhaps we could bring a minivan to DC and start a sing-along to boost beltway camaraderie. What politicians need to understand is that most Americans are neither entertained by squabbling nor awed by destructive hubris. Boring politicians who just did their jobs would be much more endearing and, needless to say, more useful.
ReplyDeleteWe might also consider some sort of response to "big media," which, in my opinion, plays a significant role in encouraging useless political showmanship. I've heard in numerous reports that budget discussions have been much more productive behind closed doors. Our letters, phone calls, and tweets might have a bigger and more unique impact if, instead of saying, "Senator, please be more reasonable," we focus on, "Pundits and reporters, please control your obsession with these boneheads - they're not doing very much anyway!"
Just like a small child, if you stop giving them attention, they'll likely change their tactics. For lack of a better approach, maybe this is how we should treat some of our more incorrigible elected officials.