Blame game

http://news.yahoo.com/congress-may-try-blocking-cuts-debt-panel-fails-084414921.html

Well, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the Super Committee has failed (So far, technically they still have a day or so) to reach any sort of budget agreement to prevent the automatic budget cuts from kicking in. Now, in fairness, I believe that there have been honest attempts from both parties to reach some sort of understanding, but because of both sides "my way or no way" no real agreement ever had a chance. Damnocrats refused to touch their sacred cow of support programs and Reboobicans refused to offer any sort of real Tax Increases. (Again I have to give the Reboobicans some props, they did offer up a couple of proposals that would have offered some tax increases, but since these amounted to increasing the taxes on middle and lower class peoples while giving the wealthier Americans even more tax breaks, they never really had a chance of passing.)

But believe it or not, my ire isn't really aimed at the Super Noncommittals. They pretty much did exactly what I was expecting them to do, nothing. No, my ire/amusement (oftentimes the same thing with me) is aimed at Congress/House members who are already making moves to block the activation of the automatic budget cuts that are supposed to go into effect if the Committee can't reach some sort of agreement.

For those who don't know, the Automatic Budget Cuts were supposed to be so awful and destructive that no one in their right minds would want them to kick in so the Committee members would be forced to work together to prevent them. However, being typical politicks, no one could so now "disaster" is on the horizon. And once again our esteemed peeps in Washington are working hard as they can. Not to prevent the problem but to ignore the problem or at least postpone it.

Amazingly enough, the President and the Leaders of the various branches have declared that they will not work towards blocking the cuts. The President has even declared that he will veto any attempts to block it. Now how long this lasts once the public starts screaming is anyone's guess, but right now they are talking a good fight.

Now for the record, I am not a "tax the rich to pay for everything" or a "Cut the programs that help the poor and needy" person. I believe that there has to be a happy medium where both sides are served. (I also believe in Santa and the Easter Bunny too but that's another story entirely.) Yes, in a properly balanced budget, the rich will have to pay their share of taxes instead of hiding behind multi-billion dollar shelters and tax laws. In that same vein, all of these support programs that so many people assume to be their right have to be reined back too. Programs like Social Security and Medicare were never designed to be people's main source of income or support. Welfare was never meant to be a life time income. As much as it bugs a lot of people, even Unemployment was never meant to keep paying you money till you found a job no matter how long it takes.

I'm no financial expert and Gods know I am not expert on the US government and how it works. I am fairly intelligent and read to damn much for my own good. Everything I express in my columns and books is my opinion nothing more. Most of the time I try to make my opinion as well informed as possible and other times I just say how I feel. Today, I feel disgusted with our government even though I knew this was coming. I feel angry that even in the face of catastrophe, our elected officials can't reach some sort of agreement, even if its a bad one. I am angry and all I can do is sit back and watch the blame game start up. (which I have to admit will be at least moderately amusing.)