Controlling US Government spending...
American people hoodwinked again.

As I write, the US Senate is trying to compromise on a bill to raise the debt limit an extra 2 to 3 trillion dollars, just two days before the deadline imposed by President Barak Obama to allow him to borrow more for the everyday running of the federal government. So I am sticking my neck out with a prediction that may soon be discredited. But I don't think so.

The President and the Democrats would like an unfettered debt increase with the added bonus of extra taxes, while establishment Republicans prompted by Tea Party newcomers are being forced to negotiate for unheard of concessions that would drastically cut federal government spending to reduce the debt without raising taxes.  Republicans are being closely scrutinized by the Tea Party movement for their loyalty to conservative principles and it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to simply cave in to President Obama's debt ceiling increase as they usually would have. On this last day of July all hell is breaking loose with the Washington elite working on a Sunday to try to strike the deal necessary for passage in the US Senate, while at the same time appeasing the America people who are sick of government's out of control spending.

The real reason a compromise has been hard to reach is that both the Republicans and the Democrats are not seriously trying to reduce federal spending but increase it in a way not to make the public mad.

What is likely to be the outcome?

One way or another, more of the same business as usual but this time sugar coated with the appearance of responsible fiscal belt tightening to try to fool the public and their Tea Party champions into believing meaningful changes have been made to the system. I predict the borrowing, and spending, will start right away while the spending cuts will be kicked down the road five or ten years and never materialize.

Many government watchers like myself are becoming increasingly skeptical with legislative promises. After decades of being lied to and hoodwinked into believing something is so when in actual fact the final outcome has been manipulated for appearance sake, it is hard to take elected politicians seriously. The formation of a general, non partisan sponsored Tea movement is generally the result of this disenchantment with the political status-quo. Both establishment Republicans and Democrats vehemently dislike the general public form becoming involved in what they see as their turf and are not used to negotiating with outsiders to justify spending the taxpayers money. This latest saga of financial carnage is expected not to change Washington the way the people of America have demanded. But, the chickens are coming home to roost for the Republicans.

The Tea Party movement was never meant to be an extension of the Republican Party. The Republican Party attached itself to the Tea movement hoping to suck its power from the people. It has failed dismally, with the Tea Party gaining strength from a weakened and increasingly pathetic Republican Party. Old guard Republicans seem oblivious to what is happening with rank and file supporters and continue to use old worn-out tactics to hoodwink them in the belief their party, and power, is indestructible.

Polls show that most thinking Americans are not deluded by the current political deficit firestorm and do not expect Republican negotiations to gain a meaningful reduction in Washington spending.

The Republican Party has had its chance to prove itself and has emerged as a non-entity. It is time for the Tea Party conservatives to move on and distance itself from the old guard.

That's what I think. What do you think?



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