When it comes to efforts to resolve the looming U.S. default on its debts–the first time in American history–Republican politicians are behaving like a “deadbeat dad,” who refuses to even consider any solution to his “family’s” financial crisis that involves bringing in more money into the household. Everybody’s just going to have to tighten their belts and cutback, that’s all.
I imagine the conversation going along like this.
“No,” dad says. “I will not get an extra part-time job. That’s out of the question. Junior will just have to come home from state college. There’s a junior college here in town. He can study there.
“No,” he continues. “Bristol can’t be on the cross country team. We can’t afford the fee. And she can forget about going to the prom, too. We can’t afford that either.
“And your mother is just going to have to move in and live with your brother or your sister, because we just can’t keep paying for her to stay in that fancy hotel they call an ‘assisted living center.’
“What? I will absolutely not stop racing my customized Mustang-Shelby-GT. I’ve already cut back to one out-of-town rally per month, and I only golf once a week now, and only go for drinks with the fellas two nights a week, so why don’t you get off my back, for crying out loud?
“And don’t even think about cutting back my premium cable-TV sports or girlie channels. That’s the only relaxation I have around here!”
And so it goes in Congress. Continue reading
