The American people deserve better

Albert Einstein is credited with the often repeated definition of insanity:  doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  Perhaps Congress and the President should become acquainted with this adage.  Unfortunately, it appears that not only are they quite familiar with it, it has become not just a fall back plan, but standard operating procedure.

For those following the Debt Ceiling fiasco, more than a few cynics predicted a last minute agreement would be reached between the President and the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate. Why was this not surprising to long-time politicians? And why is it becoming less and less surprising to the American public?

How many renditions of the “missing-the-deadline-will-bring-about-cataclysmic-repercusions, but it isn’t our fault we’re in this position” is the American public supposed to swallow?  Another saying that comes to mind is fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  Why does it appear that this never ending race to the finish line is an orchestrated attempt to simply cultivate politics as usual?

The American public sees this play out time and time again.  Set against a looming deadline, pressure mounts, plans are revealed, some in more detail than others.  It may be the sheer threat that a plan exists, or will exist, or in some cases, may never exist, that throws the entire country into a tailspin.  Major media adds to the hype, analyzing, scrutinizing and conjecturing ad nauseam.  They may as well bring out the crystal ball and have a go.  For in reality, no one knows the outcomes, the consequences, intended or unintended, of various plans – or of no plans.

What can be certain is that Congress will spend an inordinate amount of time, foot dragging, pontificating, posturing, prevaricating and plain old delaying.  The big loser isn’t either party, or any party for that matter.

It is the American public, whom must suffer the threats, some veiled, others quite deliberate that they will somehow come out of the bargain, not only worse off than before, but that they will take the brunt of the always catastrophic negative effects.

And while Congress and the President are playing their political games, maneuvering for the one-upmanship position, taking credit, or assigning blame, it is those folks outside the 10-square mile logic-free zone, also known as Washington, D.C., that endure the agony with a deer-in-the-headlights look.  But there is no escape, no safe haven in sight.  Because the political professionals already have their scripts, are playing out their roles, arguing, posturing, and oh, so miraculously, coming up with the 11^th hour compromise that leaves those on the extreme right or the extreme left wings of either party less than satisfied.

Politicians busy making the celebratory compromise-is-a-wonderful-thing speeches would have everyone believe a miracle has occurred and the country has been snatched from the precipice of the apocalypse.  And the American public is left scratching their heads wondering if the agreement is a good one or not.

Perhaps the public would have more confidence if it had been developed in a measured manner, with full examination of possible effects, and embraced long before the final gong of the closing bell.

Was it a good thing to send the stock market plunging and gasping over the past weeks? Would seniors, veterans and lots of other folks who were targeted with threats of financial and medical ruin agree that the thoughtless and irresponsible actions, or lack thereof, of this Congress and President were a good thing? Is degradation of America in the eyes of the world a proud moment?

No side is guiltless in this battle.  What is certain is that the debt ceiling has been raised and promises have been made.  Only time will tell if this latest round of promises evolves into meaningful dialogue or becomes redirected as political fodder.

But for now, Congress can puff out their collective chest, slap each other on the back and head home or elsewhere, espousing their ability to reach across the aisle and get the job done for the American public…until the next deadline is looming large.