Things Are Bitter In Washington.

       Just in case you didn't know it, we've got a problem in Washington D.C. It's our capital and that's where things get done, for the good of the country. Only now things don't get done for the good of the country. Not even for the bad of the country. If we were talking about inflation, we'd be saying Washington is experiencing stagnation or even more to the point it would be experiencing stagflation.
       Here's the deal. Washington is divided into two camps. Sorta like a war with two opposite sides. On the one side we have the conservatives and ultra-conservatives with a smattering of moderates known as the Republicans. They have a lot of hangups, but mainly they will not accept any new taxes on the rich who they see as the job creators. They believe that our out of control debt and deficit must be brought under control by shrinking government by cutting spending. Except for defense.
       On the other side, you have the progressives and liberals with a smattering of moderates known as the Democrats. They have their own set of hangups, but mainly they demand that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid be protected and entitlements that protect the poor must be saved. They believe that defense should be cut  along with modest cuts to entitlements, waste should be ended and we need a tax increase on those who have profited most from our financial predicament, the rich.
       A substantial majority of both camps agree on quite a few things, but they can't get past these major stumbling blocks of taxes and entitlements and defense. Since they can't get past these road blocks, they won't agree on anything except maybe to name a new post office or something. They could actually do a lot of good things for the country, but while each side suggests they should do these things, neither side will agree to do them.
       There really is only one thing that both sides are willing to do. That is to bombard the other camp with negative attacks. Both sides are good at that. They are both adept at convincing their bases they are in the right. This allows them to draw untold wealth from the pockets of their most cherished supporters. This wealth enables them to continue the fight to the bitter end. It's the bitter end that's killing all of us.