Set Your Alarm For November '14

It's been just a few days now since the senate and house were able to weave enough of a patch to get the the United States government back to work. It came after 16 days of media opportunities for all parties to the debacle. Like Miley Cyrus with a big sponge hand-- there is no such thing as too much; there is no such thing as bad publicity. I saw the interviews with representatives and senators waxing earnest over the need to do the right thing and I was sick. Massive egos sucking up the spotlight, feigning concern while titillated by the attention. I saw the photo of Reid and McConnell the morning after and I was sick. Where there should have been nothing but shame and embarrassment, there stood the proud engineers of compromise as if there was a silver lining.

I've read the numbers-- some say 24, some 27 billion dollars in negative economic impact-- but the cost is much greater. Our great democracy has been brought to its knees by a renegade few, unwilling to live with one policy so they're willing to jeopardize the whole system. And, in fact, they have jeopardized the whole system. These displays of brinkmanship don't fall short of generating real and lasting damage. The world watches while the U.S. system of government stalls and risks the economic welfare of the world. My hunch, and the concern of many others smarter than me, is that the world won't forget, the damage is real. If the U.S. is vulnerable to the reckless agenda of the few-- if the minority can act like a toxic virus-- then the U.S. just may not be the best and safest place to do financial business. Perhaps it's time the torch was passed.

Beyond the possibility that this republic has been permanently damaged by the reckless self-serving agent of an irresponsible minority, the thing that really concerns me is amnesia. I'm afraid we will forget the cost of the past 16 days. I'm afraid we will forget the cost of a house divided, crippled by a thorn in the paw. I'm afraid that, when election time rolls around once again next year, money will talk and bullshit, well bullshit will continue to talk as well-- well financed, slickly packaged, neatly delivered bullshit.

We've received a wake-up call. Let's not forget to set our alarms come next November. Whether Democrat, Republican, or other, choose wisely for a candidate committed to our country and one who understands the cost of playing games instead of playing the game.