New Year Looks No Less Dysfunctional Than The Old

IBD Editorials ^ | December 30, 2011 | MARK STEYN

[Kaslin]

Ring out the new, ring in the old. No, hang on, that should be the other way around, shouldn't it?

Not as far as 2011 was concerned. The year began with a tea-powered Republican caucus taking control of the House of Representatives and pledging to rein in spendaholic government. It ended with President Obama making a pro forma request for a mere $1.2 trillion increase in the debt ceiling. This will raise government debt to $16.4 trillion — a new world record! If only until he demands the next debt-ceiling increase in three months' time.

At the end of 2011, America, like much of the rest of the western world, has dug deeper into a cocoon of denial. Tens of millions of Americans remain unaware that this nation is broke — broker than any nation has ever been.

A few days before Christmas, we sailed across the psychological Rubicon and joined the club of nations whose government debt now exceeds their total GDP. It barely raised a murmur — and those who took the trouble to address the issue noted complacently that our 100% debt-to-GDP ratio is a mere two-thirds of Greece's.

That's true, but at a certain point per capita comparisons are less relevant than the sheer hard dollar sums: Greece owes a few rinky-dink billions; America owes more money than anyone has ever owed anybody ever.

Public debt has increased by 67% over the last three years, and too many Americans refuse even to see it as a problem. For most of us, "$16.4 trillion" has no real meaning, any more than "$17.9 trillion" or "$28.3 trillion" or "$147.8 bazillion." It doesn't even have much meaning for the guys spending the dough.

[EGPWS]

We're doing fine.

A few more senate panels of experts and all issue resolutions will fall into place and skittles will fall from the sky.

[Doogle]

....they won't pay attention until pitchforks and torches surround the capital

[HiTech RedNeck]

It’s all funny money now and it’s been so for a long time. Doesn’t it dwarf the amount of mined silver and gold in the world?

[Oldeconomybuyer]

This is series. We need another Debt Commission. /DC

[sjmjax]

Leaving out those who are disinterested or clueless, the country is roughly divided 50/50.

Each half thinks the representatives of the other 50% are totally dysfunctional and blocking progress and recovery.

Until that distribution is changed and the politicians that represent them changes, we will remain "dysfunctional" as a Nation.

And of course depending on which way that change trends, we will either slowly and painfully recover or fly throttle to the wall into a granite cliff.

And, if we do nothing we will still splatter into that granite cliff only at a lower speed and altitude.

[thirst4truth]

Instead, one party remains committed to encrusting even more barnacles to America's rusting hulk, while the other is far too wary of harshing the electorate's mellow.

Love this line had to repeat it! This will not end happily. I am keeping my eyes on God Almighty as that is the only way to save our nation.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.