Partisanship trumps citizenship

The congressional super committee was charged with the task of coming up with solutions and plans to address the debt and deficit crisis in this country. Its goal was to trim the federal budget by $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

This week it announced it had failed.

Its bipartisan members could not come to agreement on how to solve the nation’s looming budget problems.

The six Republicans and six Democrats accomplished nothing after weeks of meetings. They found compromise too distasteful even if compromise meant progress towards solving the current economic crisis.

Now, automatic cuts are slated to go into effect in 2013. Where the committee could have used a scalpel, the automatic cuts will use an axe.

Some balanced ideas have been presented. The Bowles-Simpson plan gave some solutions. The infamous Gang of Six had some answers as well.

The Super Committee had none.

In retrospect, it was not likely a small version of Congress would be more successful than Congress itself.

Once again, the adults in the room appear to be the American public. Polls substantiate that the vast majority of Americans wants a compromise plan to address the current economic woes. They care less about ideology than practicality. They want answers and solutions, and many are willing to make sacrifices and compromises to get them.

Despite the temper of the country, partisanship continues to trump citizenship. It is a national disgrace which could lead to a national disaster.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher