Congress Fiddles, America Burns

Official portrait of United States House Speaker (R-Ohio). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After two months of needless post-election drama, Congress belatedly rescued the country from falling off the "fiscal cliff" while hanging on to a tree branch.

As 2013 dawned and most Americans with cable TV were watching the bowl games, the House passed a bill previously approved by the Senate--over loud Republican objections--to temporarily stave off the wolves until the next fiscal crisis.

The deal goes like this:  The George W. Bush-era tax cuts remain in place for those making less than $400,000 a year.  Those who make more than that can expect to see a bigger tax bill.  Jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed have been extended to a year.  And no spending cuts on government programs for at least two months.

Before President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid put their heads together to get the deal done as 2012 petered away, the fiscal crisis pretty much ruined everybody's holiday season.  Retail sales were down, as was Wall Street.  Businesses didn't know how to plan for next year.  As time was running out, people were pleading with their elected representatives to please do something.  Anything.

For House Republicans (some of whom actually voted for the bill), it was like being led into the Little Big Horn with Boehner leading the charge, channeling his inner General Custer.  The Tea Partiers and followers of Grover Norquist were so incensed by the actions of certain GOP turncoats that they've vowed retribution  at the ballot box in 2014.

We'd like to say goodbye and good riddance to the Congress that just ended.  But we can't.  The new Congress that was just sworn in includes many of the same cast of characters as the previous one.  Both parties--Democrats in the Senate, GOP in the House--retained their majorities.  Obama, Reid and Boehner have kept their respective jobs.

There will be more fiscal drama to come in the new year.  By the end of February, the new Congress will be asked to once again raise the debt ceiling that currently stands at $16.4 trillion, risking another downgrade in the U.S.' credit rating.

Recently, Lake Superior State University of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan came out with its annual survey of terms people do not want to hear again.  The top two phrases were "fiscal cliff" and "kick the can down the road".  Isn't that what just happened in Washington--and will keep on happening unless and until people come to their senses?