Everyone is abuzz about the Congressional "Super Committee" failing its charge of reducing the deficit. The LA Times:
But wait! It strikes me that perhaps we ought not despair too much. Because even in its failure, the Super Committee -and Congress by extension- have accomplished a lot. How?
Well it seems the only way to get Congress to act these days is by setting up trap doors, automatic triggers, expiring legislation and other time-based or action-based events that happen when Congress does nothing. The Super Committee is the best example itself: if it's truly going to fail, then automatic cuts to social and defense programs will kick in. Another example is the Bush Tax cuts: if Congress doesn't act to renew them, then in January 2013, they will end.
Now if you're a Democrat or Republican, afraid of cutting here or taxing there, these automatic triggers might be a compelling alternative. Why? Because you can't be blamed. You never voted in the affirmative to cut Social Security or tax job creators, you just failed to come up with a way to stop those automated traps. The various interest groups you represent -defense contractors, old people, environmentalists, whatever- can't really target you based on your inaction and inability to come to an agreement with the other side. Blame can be spread out evenly over the entire Congress, rather than pinned on that 60th Senator or crucial House Committee chairperson. In the same way, no one can be credited for cutting the deficit either.
And guess what? The nation might be better off for it. Some bloggers are saying that if the Super Committee fails and the Bush tax cuts aren't extended, the nation's deficit problem will resolve itself within ten years.
It's Dead Man Switch Democracy and in its own way, it might be more rational, fair and just than anything crafted by a Super Committee.
Gridlock, Paralysis and Failure - the new & better normal?
Congressional leaders are negotiating an endgame for the "super committee" that could come as soon as Monday as Democrats and Republicansblame one another for what appears to be the panel's failure to come up with a $1.5-trillion deficit reduction plan.Cue the wailing and gnashing of teeth over our representatives' inability to get things done, solve problems etc. Get out the thesaurus and find some synonyms for "finger pointing" and "scapegoating" two words that will be used liberally in the coming days. We started the Super Committee because 525 people couldn't agree on the nation's financial picture and it turns out that 12 people can't either.
Despite a flurry of last-minute proposals and closed meetings, it appeared increasingly unlikely that members of the bipartisan committee could compromise on the contentious issues of taxes and entitlement spending that have deadlocked the talks.
But wait! It strikes me that perhaps we ought not despair too much. Because even in its failure, the Super Committee -and Congress by extension- have accomplished a lot. How?
Well it seems the only way to get Congress to act these days is by setting up trap doors, automatic triggers, expiring legislation and other time-based or action-based events that happen when Congress does nothing. The Super Committee is the best example itself: if it's truly going to fail, then automatic cuts to social and defense programs will kick in. Another example is the Bush Tax cuts: if Congress doesn't act to renew them, then in January 2013, they will end.
Now if you're a Democrat or Republican, afraid of cutting here or taxing there, these automatic triggers might be a compelling alternative. Why? Because you can't be blamed. You never voted in the affirmative to cut Social Security or tax job creators, you just failed to come up with a way to stop those automated traps. The various interest groups you represent -defense contractors, old people, environmentalists, whatever- can't really target you based on your inaction and inability to come to an agreement with the other side. Blame can be spread out evenly over the entire Congress, rather than pinned on that 60th Senator or crucial House Committee chairperson. In the same way, no one can be credited for cutting the deficit either.
And guess what? The nation might be better off for it. Some bloggers are saying that if the Super Committee fails and the Bush tax cuts aren't extended, the nation's deficit problem will resolve itself within ten years.
It's Dead Man Switch Democracy and in its own way, it might be more rational, fair and just than anything crafted by a Super Committee.