The Democrats’ main talking point for the spending cuts debate in Congress is that the Republicans would rather shut down the government than compromise on cuts. The objectives in this talking point are to paint the Republicans as heartless scoundrels who want to hurt people by cutting government funding, and to make the Democrats seem like conscientious and reasonable politicians who are defending us against those who would take away our means of existence (the largess of the national government, of course), but who, as reasonable people, are more than willing to compromise (read, get their way) with the Republicans.
The Republicans, on the other hand, want us to think that they have our pocketbooks at heart by saving us from Democrat profligate spending, while proposing spending cuts in programs that make up a small part of the budget (what about oil or agricultural subsidies, GOP?).
But we should remember this: The reason we must have spending cuts in the first place is because of the profligate spending of both Democrats and Republicans. During the Bush 43 administration–when the Republicans had control of the House 2001-2002, and control of Congress 2003-2006–the national debt increased from $5.7 trillion in September, 2000, to $10 trillion in September, 2008, a lot of that due to the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. And the Obama administration, following Democrat control of the Congress in the last two years of the Bush administration, and with total control of Congress in 2009 and 2010, kicked it up to $13.6 trillion in just those two years.
So, listen up, Americans! Don’t believe the Democrats when they spread the compromise crap, because they don’t really mean it. And don’t believe the Republicans when they talk about major spending cuts and limited government, because they don’t really mean it. Unless something unforeseen happens, the national government will continue to print the money it wants to spend while the nation goes down the economic tubes. The president and Congress will be fiddling while Washington burns.
erigo abyssus 