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Editorial from the Joplin Globe
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December 8, 2010
Our view: Politics win out
The Joplin Globe Wed Dec 08, 2010, 08:01 AM CST
Politics reigned supreme over principles on both sides in the latest “deal” between Republicans and Democrats in Washington on Monday night.
President Obama has agreed to delay increasing income taxes on the rich, and Republicans have agreed to increase the deficit through extension of unemployment benefits for 13 months.
In reaching such a compromise, both sides ignored the most pressing problem facing the country: the massive debt and deficit spending.
If this compromise passes congressional votes in the next week or so, both debt and deficits will skyrocket by more than $100 billion per year.
And both sides will try to spin this compromise as a positive step for the country, though for different reasons.
And neither side will show how such an agreement violates the fundamental challenge for government to begin to live within our means.
Politics has surely trumped that important, even vital objective for the federal government.
How could this have been avoided? If increasing taxes is so important to economic livelihood, then simply let all the Bush tax cuts expire and require all Americans (at least those who pay taxes) carry the burden. If unemployment benefits are deemed critical, then keep them in place but find other cuts in federal spending to prevent deficit spending to pay for them.
We are sure the Debt Commission has found some short-term cuts that could support that effort if anyone reads those recommendations in depth, not just the sound bites contained therein.
Republican principles are not to raise taxes. Democratic principles are to protect the poor and middle classes from spending cuts or tax increases. Neither side has a clue how to restore economic prosperity by sticking only to their principles. Debt control and elimination of deficit spending are the keys.
The Debt Commission made that point and suggested a starting point to both raise taxes and cut spending simultaneously.
Now, see how the politicians are approaching the problem.
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