NEW CASTLE —
America is about to go over its fiscal cliff.
Officials in Washington continue to say they want an agreement on taxes and spending that will help to narrow the nation’s deficit gap without drastic economic consequences.
But the reality at this point is that no meaningful long-term agreement is possible by the end of the year.
So instead, talk has turned to what we worried would happen — some sort of short-term, stopgap fix that accomplishes nothing, other than assuring more fiscal cliff drama a few months down the road.
This is irresponsible. We are tired of the posturing and angling by Democrats and Republicans. And as we said earlier, we would prefer to see the nation go over its fiscal cliff to simply dragging out this nonsense even more.
Yes, going over the cliff comes with all sorts of unpleasantness, ranging from higher taxes all around to dubious budget cuts in key areas. But this hardship was the agreement Democrats and Republicans created as a means of forcing them to deal responsibly with the deficit.
The fact the threat of the fiscal cliff hasn’t forced a compromise speaks volumes about the quality of leadership in Washington.
More to the point: It sends a message to the American people that they need to become more involved in demanding an end to Washington’s squabbling. Going over the cliff will focus the public’s attention on the problem at hand.
Everyone knows some tough decisions need to be made to address the federal government’s fiscal ills. These won’t be resolved with time or wishful thinking. It is in these circumstances that hard bargaining and compromise become essential tools in achieving progress.
No one should lose sight of the fact that Washington’s intransigence on fiscal matters produces considerable economic uncertainty across the nation. Without a clear picture of taxation and spending policies, many companies are reluctant to engage in any sort of risk that’s often the prelude to growth.
Now there are concerns that anemic economic recovery in the nation will be snuffed out completely by Washington’s antics. But maybe that’s what it will take to set the stage for a long-term resolution to federal gridlock.
Washington desperately needs to repair itself. And if it doesn’t start to do so immediately, voters must get serious about making their own changes in the nation’s capital.
Editorials
Our Opinion: Diving off cliff, Washington appears to be incapable of resolving its fiscal mess
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Our Opinion: IRS probe may reveal multiple problems
When a murky scandal is investigated, the goal is to obtain clarity, as well as to right any wrongs. But reaching such a conclusion can be a tortuous process. And so it is with the current probe of allegations of political targeting by the Internal Revenue Service.
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Our Opinion: Supreme Court rejects patents on human coding
We can all take comfort in knowing we still retain the rights to our own genetic material. That might seem to be obvious, but a case before the U.S. Supreme Court involved questions over whether private companies could patent human genes as their own.
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Our Opinion: Vo-tech nursing program faces elimination in budget crunch
The past few years have been difficult financially for Pennsylvania’s education system. Tight budgets produced by an economic slowdown, weakening support from Harrisburg and an ever-increasing rise in personnel costs has created a fiscal bind for most school districts, those in Lawrence County included.
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Our Opinion: Government’s seizing records a threat to liberty
(Second of two editorials): America’s director of national intelligence had a ready explanation this week regarding the need to seize everyone’s phone records. “Well, you have to start someplace,” James Clapper told NBC News. Let’s stop and think about that for a moment.
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Our Opinion: News leaks reveal dramatic scope of government data collection
(First of two editorials): In case you had any doubts, Big Brother is watching. And listening. And for all we know, smelling and tasting as well.
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Our Opinion: Pennsylvania has transportation needs, but plan has problems
Spending money on transportation projects is a popular political pastime. After all, what’s not to like about programs that create jobs and make driving smoother and safer? Yes, construction is an inconvenience, but generally, the public understands it’s necessary for the greater good.
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Our Opinion: IRS conferences take advantage of public funds
Things aren’t getting any better for the Internal Revenue Service. In fact, the credibility of the nation’s tax collection organization seems to be eroding away as Americans look on with disgust.
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Our Opinion: Ruling assures sweeping access to DNA
Do you trust government? Well, you better, thanks to a new U.S. Supreme Court decision that gives law enforcement — and ultimately others in government — the ability to access sweeping new information about individuals.
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Our Opinion: Declines recorded all across Lawrence County in latest data
Lawrence County’s long trend of population decline was highlighted when the Census Bureau reported yet another drop. Last month, the bureau said that the county’s population fell from 91,108 in 2010 to 89,871 in 2012. This compares to figures from 1960, when the county’s population was recorded at 112,965.
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Our Opinion: What’s happening with American policy in Syria
In an ideal world, the Obama administration and Congress would agree on a plan regarding Syria. But this is not an ideal world. And it’s certainly not even close to being an ideal world in Washington. So instead of a plan, we get fumbling.
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Our Opinion: IRS probe may reveal multiple problems
