Does everyone agree a government shutdown would suck? I guess I should have prefaced my original post with that question, since I still think it's up in the air, frankly. But it seems like both sides are starting to realize it may not be a great idea, but when you're starting from a point where a) the differences are deeply ideological, not only political; and b) one side has taken everything off the table but YOUR food, how is this possibly going to get anywhere?
Courtesy of the Center for American Progress:
House leaders are unfortunately restricting their proposed budget cuts for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 to nonsecurity discretionary spending in an attempt to tame a $1.3 trillion deficit. This approach is especially shortsighted since the Federal Treasury loses twice as much revenue due to tax breaks than Congress appropriates on all nonsecurity discretionary spending.
The chart below compares the 10 safety-net programs slated for deep cuts with the cost of the tax breaks that should also be considered for reduction or elimination to bring the budget into balance. The column on the left is a list of safety-net programs that have already been targets of the House leadership’s budget ax. The column on the right is the cost to specified tax breaks:
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The more I look at it, the more I think that this is best graphical representation I’ve seen of the differences between conservatives and liberals when it comes to the economy. I look at each of these pairs of items, and in every single case I can make a stronger argument in my mind for the left hand column. I imagine conservatives would have the exact opposite reaction, and be much more able to defend the right hand side.
In fact, my guess is that no amount of cajoling or civility will move many people off their positions. So, what do we do? If we’ve all decided (and I don’t think we have, but I’m not in charge of the agenda in Congress) that now’s the time to address the deficit, and we’re split on how to do it, what’s the answer?
Well, yes, there’s a government shutdown. While as a Democrat, part of me says “bring it,” I really think that deep down inside, neither side wants it to come to that. So you have to take that chart, and treat it like a menu. A little from Column A, a little from Column B, but you have to try new things or else you don’t get dessert.
What you don’t need to do in a situation like this is come up with a really long list of things that you absolutely won’t negotiate on. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s been done, and that’s why we’re in the standoff we’re in.