The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The debt ceiling limit crisis in the U.S. has revealed one fact: the country's current political class of leaders is overly partisan. The U.S. Treasury Department has determined that on Aug. 2, the debt-carrying government will reach the limit of its statutory borrowing authority. Based on what has led up to that fateful day, the political class earns a D. If the grade becomes an F, the country may not even be able to afford dunce caps. This was on full display this week when President Barack Obama, leader of the Democrats, and Speaker of the House John Boehner, leader of the Republicans, gave dueling speeches on the politician-created debt limit crisis that threatens to wreak havoc with the American and global economies. Obama correctly noted that compromise has become "a dirty word" among some Republicans and played to his party's liberal base by insisting on the need to raise taxes on the wealthy. Boehner hurled zingers at Obama and played to his party's absolutely-no-compromise base. The most perceptive comment on the appearances came from University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato, who Tweeted: "America has rarely looked more foolish...(Democrats) think Obama did well. (Republicans) think Boehner did well. And in a nutshell there's the problem." You wonder: 235 years of American history has led to THIS, with these kinds of leaders so incapacitated by partisan ideological boundaries? Whatever happened to consensus, coalition-building and smart politicos who could lead their partisans to a greater national goal? Ideological boxes Both parties' leaders are locked in ideological boxes that their bases won't let them exit. The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan sees what is unfolding as part of a "cold" Civil War. He said the Republicans have become the party of the southern U.S. and with "no ability to communicate within the Democratic Party to bring the South and the rest of the country together, we have stalemate." There's a strong sense that leaders from both parties don't have what it takes to achieve what leaders of past generations could do: do whatever it takes for the good of the country. Is the world concluding America's democratic institutions aren't functioning? Secretary of State Hillary Clinton felt compelled to say this to Hong Kong business leaders: "Let me assure you we understand the stakes. We know how important this is for us and how important this is for you...These kinds of debates have been a constant in our political life throughout the history of our Republic." Not quite. There has never been a debt ceiling debate this hate-filled. Or as polarizing. And never with leaders from both sides not up to the task Ñ mere shadows of the leaders that made America great. Even if they do finally agree, they will remain that: mere shadows. This is an edited version of an editorial by Joe Gandelman, syndicated columnist.
