We just completed a year of political rancor with health care dominating the arguments between Democrats and Republicans.
The end result was nothing — no bill, no change in health care. All the American people received from Washington was blame from both sides to fail to correct a big problem.
In our view, the focus of the same and perhaps even louder disdain from both sides against one another will be over federal spending and inability to control deficits and debt accumulation.
We also suspect the end result next fall will be a new federal budget with only minor changes to the right side of the decimal point between what the president has requested and Congress will approve. Again, more nothing.
The president submitted his $3.83 trillion budget to Congress on Monday. It includes plans to borrow an additional $1.56 trillion, both historical records for spending and deficit. Taxes on many will increase as well, and for sure the overall size of the federal government will continue to grow. The primary rationale for this submitted budget is to improve economic conditions and create more jobs across the country.
And, of course, the blame game began simultaneously with the budget submission. In announcing his budget the President laid the blame on “a decade of profligacy.” Republicans countered that his new budget was “filled with more reckless spending and more unsustainable debt.”
So here we are again, folks. Democrats blame Republicans, Republicans blame and refuse to support Democrats, voters are angry, and essentially we all get stuck with the status quo, be it health care reform or federal spending policies.
The simple facts are that access to and cost of health care demand attention and change. The huge federal deficit and its continued growth seemingly without control by any politicians is a stunning danger to our very way of life in the future. And both parties in Washington do nothing but position themselves for the next election.
If nothing else, such conditions reflect a total absence of effective leadership, from both parties, and an electorate that is confused, angry and not at all sure which way to turn to find that leadership and then support it with unity.
