Understanding Government

Nicholas Kristof had a thought-provoking piece over the weekend in the New York Times pointing out how reckless politicians are hurting America from within:

The biggest threat to America’s national security this summer doesn’t come from China, Iran or any other foreign power. It comes from budget machinations, and budget maniacs, at home.

Motivated by ideology rather than practicality, some members of Congress are blind to the way their position will actually make America weaker, and how their “budget-cutting” stance will actually end up forcing the government to spend more (to finance debt payment at higher interest rates, for one). (more…)

In an illuminating (and surprisingly snark-free) column, Gerald Seib of the Wall Street Journal explains why a budget/debt-ceiling agreement would be good for Obama and good for Washington.  Seib points out that there are at least two statesmen in Washington:

. . . [B]oth Messrs. Obama and Boehner have been searching for a big deficit deal for the most imporant reason of all:  Both think one would be good for the country and its economy in the long run.  Both deserve credit for that.

Seib then explains why an agreement would be good for Obama and why, in the end, Obama could come out the winner in any case — politically, at least: (more…)