A False Equivalency

Texas Senator Ted Cruz

Once again we have found ourselves at the midnight hour on Capitol Hill, this time over raising the Debt Ceiling.   Thanks in large measure to its Tea Party faction, Republicans are taking more blame for the impasse than President Obama or other Democrats, but Congress and Washington as a whole have not been spared from bad press.    When I hear people say there's plenty of blame on both sides, I can't help but think the Republican party's meltdown is by far the prime culprit.   The American public feels a genuine disgust with politicians in general, but it only takes 50 representatives of extreme right wing constituencies to thrust the American political system into gridlock over legislative procedures like raising the debt ceiling.   Spurred on by Senator Ted Cruz, these self-styled Tea Party "patriots" are totally ready to take down the full faith and credit of the U.S. government just to block the President's signature healthcare law.   Does anybody in their right mind really believe Obamacare is going to destroy our economy more than a default on debts we've already rung up?    The Tea Partiers say it will.   Beyond every other extreme position the right has taken, the fact that they are willing to risk our modest economic recovery to block a law that has been validated by the voters and the Supreme Court should tell you something about their other positions.   Too many Americans think blame can be equally assigned to both sides.   The mountain of myths perpetuated by the Tea Party types proves something else.   Obamacare can be tweaked, but the damage from not paying our debts can be disastrous.   Hang on, it could be an even bumpier ride!