Compromise is Not a Four-Letter Word
What have we learned from the debt-ceiling debate?
As published in the Charleston City Paper August 17, 2011
The debt ceiling debates that have consumed the headlines for weeks once again demonstrated a divided country and a Congress torn between ideologies and putting the long-term interest of the country first. The bipartisan debt deal that was reached could have been agreed upon long before the August 3rd deadline. Republicans argued that the President didn’t provide a framework, the Democratic-controlled Congress of last session ignored the issue, and the Tea Party faction of Congress preferred to blatantly cut spending and government all at once. Democrats argued that Republicans were being unreasonable and were not serious about coming to a rational solution before the situation worsened.
The facts are that the President did provide a framework, and Vice President Biden was working that plan with members of Congress to create a bill that would pass and that President Obama would sign. The public quickly forgot that it was the Democrat-controlled Congress that passed the pay-as-you-go bill, and it was Republicans who disagreed with the notion and preferred to spend recklessly in the name of national security. Democrats were right to argue that Republicans were not serious about reaching an agreement since they wanted more tax cuts for the wealthy to create jobs that the previous tax cuts of the last 10 years didn’t provide.
Here we are. There is enough blame to go around and enough leaders with a wishbone rather than a backbone who have constantly contributed to this problem of reckless spending. Regardless of what side of the political aisle you are on, the fact remains that none of us would have benefited had a deal not been made and the country defaulting on its financial obligations. Why would any American in their right mind want the United States to lose its AAA rating? Why would we expect elected officials not to work together? Sense when did “compromise” become a four-letter word?
This is not a question about why we have a debt ceiling or who is to blame. Even the famous and often quoted Ronald Reagan requested the debt ceiling be raised 18 times during his two terms as President. For President Obama to catch this much hell over raising the debt ceiling once based on Congress’s current spending levels over the past decade is puzzling. To be honest, it doesn’t mater how we got to this point. What is important is how we get out of this mess and prevent this situation from recurring. The means, plan, and method can be debated, but being committed to solving these problems should not be debated.
This agreement locks in a down payment on significant deficit reduction that is needed. This is our 21st-century starting point. Domestic and Pentagon spending will be cut, and no cuts will be made to the crucial investments like student aid for college students. We can’t expect to win the future, compete globally, and move from 9th in the world to first again in college graduation if people can’t afford to attend. Cuts in defense spending will not weaken our military or our national security priorities. Cuts in defense have been called for from the Pentagon in recent years by the previous and current defense secretaries with support from commanders on the ground.
Republicans running for President can poke holes and use this situation to raise money and gain an edge in their crowded and close-minded negative field. Tea and coffee lovers can continue to talk loudly and say nothing. People must be able to relate to the good that is within the bipartisan debt agreement and demand accountability from those they elect.
As we face serious fiscal problems as a nation and in communities across the country, I remain convinced that better days are ahead when we look to compromise in order to solve problems rather than be stubborn and pass them to the next generation.
