by Nicholas Beaudrot of Electoral Math:
Finally, I have a problem with the DeLongian formulation, shared in spirit by Thoma, about "balancing" Social Security and Medicare finance. Here as well, the problem is not only the economics, but the political reality that in matters of budgetary scruples, the Democrats are trying to hold a formal dinner with a pack of feces-flinging monkeys.
This applies to more than just balancing the budget; it applies to ethics reform, giving the House minority leeway, and anywhere else where the Republican party is currently bringing a gun to the knife fight, and the Democrats respond by asking "can they do that?" rather than reaching for the .22 in the wheel well. Until the GOP has lost enough elections that they are convinced hardball politics is one of the root causes, there's very, very, little room for debate.
