Recent discussions of people in the know suggest that the White House and Congress are as aware of our financial peril as anyone else.
They just don't act like it.
Spending continues unabated. Plans to effect change meet with opposition and fearful criticism. Congress is in gridlock.
One commentator suggested that our leadership has a tiger by the tail. They know -and fear- that if they continue on their present course financial disaster and ruin are the inevitable result. Yet they fear that if they let go of their expensive programs they will be consumed by some shadowy effect of the new path taken.
In the 1850's a similar economic/political situation existed in America. States rights was still a very volatile issue. It was the powder keg that justified southern secession. In the days prior to Ft. Sumter's opening shot of the war, the economy was based upon slavery. Abolition provided the fuse to ignite the powder keg of war.
My point is that southern leadership knew slavery was a tiger held by the tail. They knew the system was no longer economically tenable or morally justified, yet they continued through fear. All sorts of fearful scenarios were published as to what would happen if black folk were freed. In the end, none of those fears materialized, but they were held close nonetheless. Slavery continued until abolition lit the fuse. War erupted and the tiger was loosed anyway.
Economics is the issue once again, one that is perhaps much more dangerous than before.
Do you think American leaders have a tiger by the tail? If so, what documentation can you provide to prove it?
Do you think American leaders have the courage to 'let the tiger go'? If so, why?
Lastly, if we DO have a tiger by the tail, how long do you think it will be before it slips loose and bites us all?
They just don't act like it.
Spending continues unabated. Plans to effect change meet with opposition and fearful criticism. Congress is in gridlock.
One commentator suggested that our leadership has a tiger by the tail. They know -and fear- that if they continue on their present course financial disaster and ruin are the inevitable result. Yet they fear that if they let go of their expensive programs they will be consumed by some shadowy effect of the new path taken.
In the 1850's a similar economic/political situation existed in America. States rights was still a very volatile issue. It was the powder keg that justified southern secession. In the days prior to Ft. Sumter's opening shot of the war, the economy was based upon slavery. Abolition provided the fuse to ignite the powder keg of war.
My point is that southern leadership knew slavery was a tiger held by the tail. They knew the system was no longer economically tenable or morally justified, yet they continued through fear. All sorts of fearful scenarios were published as to what would happen if black folk were freed. In the end, none of those fears materialized, but they were held close nonetheless. Slavery continued until abolition lit the fuse. War erupted and the tiger was loosed anyway.
Economics is the issue once again, one that is perhaps much more dangerous than before.
Do you think American leaders have a tiger by the tail? If so, what documentation can you provide to prove it?
Do you think American leaders have the courage to 'let the tiger go'? If so, why?
Lastly, if we DO have a tiger by the tail, how long do you think it will be before it slips loose and bites us all?