A House Divided

We have a house divided against itself.  Disagreements on policy may be commonplace, but the level of animosity and the strategies being used in the struggle for control of this country are harmful, and unnecessarily so.

Although it makes a good story to call both parties equally responsible, it should be clear that the party known for saying “No” deserves it’s reputation.  They have vowed to pass no major legislation, and they are doing what they threatened.  Their actions have deliberately blocked trade agreements, appointments to the executive branch, and infrastructure projects.

By keeping the United States from doing things that both parties agree need to be done, the Republicans have harmed the economy of the United States.  It is no coincidence that their intransigence and the difficulty they have in achieving compromise has contributed to the recent downgrade of the credit of US Treasury debt.

Just one example is necessary, but there are numerous others.  The best example is the recent standoff regarding raising the debt ceiling.  Both parties agreed that it was necessary (except for some Republicans that refused to understand that the reason for raising the debt ceiling is to pay the debts that Congress has already authorized), but the Republicans decided to use the debt ceiling as “leverage” to accomplish their political agenda.

In order to do this, it was necessary to threaten not to raise the debt ceiling and cause the Treasury to not be able to pay all of the obligations that this country has.  Is there any doubt that the refusal was because of the Republicans?  No, and this was clearly stated by the Standard and Poors in their statement regarding lowering our credit rating.

“The political brinksmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America's governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective, and less predictable than what we previously believed. The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy.”

And they have said that, given the opportunity, they will do it again.  Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, said this about the actions and intent of his own party:

“I think some of our members may have thought the default issue was a hostage you might take a chance at shooting. Most of us didn’t think that. What we did learn is this — it’s a hostage that’s worth ransoming.”

“Taking the country’s debt limit hostage” is not just a metaphor, it is a description that fits, and McConnell has embraced.

From the debt-ceiling crisis, to the FAA shutdown, to the refusal to vote on appointments to executive branch departments, and the efforts to make enforcement of the laws passed by Congress impossible, the Republican Party has adopted a policy of intransigence.  We have had trade agreements with several countries, South Korea, Columbia and Panama, that the Republicans have attached strings to in order to pass.  Even the Heritage Foundation has objected to this tactic for these agreements.

“The Obama Administration—after allowing U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama to languish unapproved for nearly four years—lately appears eager to push Congress to ratify all three soon. The problem now is that some in Congress are trying to make their approval contingent upon an extension of the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA).
 That would be a mistake. The three FTAs are intrinsically worth passing without any strings. Congress should act on them without further delay.”

Domestic projects that could at least stabilize the job market are also languishing because Republicans refuse to consider them or seek to defund them.  Their whole agenda has been to do nothing about anything, or to undo things that have already passed.  They are earning their reputation as a “do-nothing congress.”

As a strategy, it has been effective.  It is a morally bankrupt strategy however.  When there are things that both parties agree in principle could be done to help the economy, but one party (lest anyone forget, the Republican Party) steadfastly refuses to do (and takes steps to deliberately block), that party is clearly acting not only irresponsibly, but contrary to the best interests of the United States.  And they know it.

It is therefore not surprising that Standard & Poors chose to downgrade the credit of the United States regardless of the ability to pay the outstanding debts owed.  Whether it was the right thing to do is another question, and, according to Robert Reich, they got it wrong.

“If we pay our bills, we're a good credit risk. If we don't, or aren't likely to, we're a bad credit risk. When, how, and by how much we bring down the long term debt -- or, more accurately, the ratio of debt to GDP -- is none of S&P's business.”

When there is legitimate concern about whether a policy will be beneficial or harmful, virtually any strategy might be condoned – even obstructionism – but when there is uniform agreement regarding the necessity of legislation, legislation that must pass or legislation that will clearly assist the function of government, it is insanity to block said legislation or to even threaten to vote against it solely for political gain.

Republicans have been relatively transparent about their ultimate political goals, but we must question their methods.  Is the goal of the Republican Party to damage the economy in the hope that a damaged economy will assist in the defeat of President Obama in the next election?

That would be beyond the pale. Self-inflicted wounds should not risk economic suicide.  It is pure insanity. 

This democracy can certainly withstand political shenanigans when the stakes are high, but there should be some common sense involved.  If the results of political brinksmanship are harmful to the economy, it’s time to stop and reassess the risks and benefits.  Congress should be united in their efforts to improve the economy if both sides are already in agreement that a particular measure will be helpful. 

The economy has had enough problems without having Congress poking holes in our delicate boat.  Staying afloat should be the first priority even if steering the boat is the ambition of both parties.

In my humble opinion, changes in how congress operates are necessary, and these changes have been necessitated by the actions (and inactions) of the Republican Party.  It’s time to take the knives away from the minority party (be they Democrats or Republicans) before they injure the institution of government itself.

Failing that, we can only hope that the serious threats currently faced by the economy will be addressed seriously and logically.  If politician says “I will not compromise”, he or she should be placed in a metaphorical penalty box for the remainder of his or her term in office.