The Grand Bargain Is No Shared Sacrifice



Posted: Friday, July 22, 2011

by Walter Rhett
Charleston Perlo

Every Grand Bargain has a set of underlying assumptions, a paradigm by which it measures compromise against its core principles. Negotiations require agreement on end actions, but successful negotiations begin with an understanding of each side's paradigm. I see long, hard evidence of a very different Republican paradigm than the one columnists and reporters describe.

Reduced deficits? A month ago, the GOP House passed the Ryan budget, touted by many as "serious"--except it ran gaping money holes until 2030. That estimate based on its own bad data, which assumed Herbert Hoover's economy.

GOP first termers routinely seek money for district projects. The cuts they do endorse are more likely to enhance legislative command and control of executive functions (defunding regulation, dismantling unions, micro-managing cabinet budgets, safety net program benefits (women's health, medical vouchers), et. al.).

The ink-not-dry CCB bill directly contradicts the recently celebrated Ryan plan. It seems GOP House members are enthralled by the flavor of the week and empty symbolism.

But beware of its substance: the GOP's core mission and paradigm is to grow and defend the income and wealth of the oligarchy. Packaged as voter slogans (Boehner), media discussions (Graham), robo-controlled (Rove, Koch brothers, et.al), its politics include voting for a bill that permits a simple majority (50%) to pass tax cuts but requires a supra-majority (67%) for their repeal.

In the name of cutting deficits, the states are selling assets. Ohio has on the block its profitable, revenue generating, job providing liquor business for $1.5 - 2.5 billion--giving away $6 billion in revenues over the next 25 years.

Who will reap the wealth and growth? The oligarchs.

Cantor is so obsessed he offered to close loop holes to finance across the board tax cuts. Not a penny would go to closing the revenue gap.

If baseline assumptions are wrong, and its hard to ignore copious evidence in plain sight, than any deal cut represents a GOP gain, not a bargain. Certainly not--remember these buzz words?--shared sacrifice. 

Walter Rhett Walter Rhett attended Ohio State and writes from Charleston, SC. He writes about national and global affairs with an eye on Southern history and culture and enjoys listening to his readers.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Edward Rhymes
 310 days 7 hours ago.
68 fans.
Thank you Walter for your concise and insightful analysis of the "Grand Bargain." The most economically vulnerable, are also the most politically vulnerable, making it far easier to tell them to share the sacrifice than it is to tell the wealthiest to pay their fair share. Thanks for writing this.
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