[My first guest post! - Ed]
Our country is in a continuing economic crisis and just went through the most disturbing display of stupidity the world has seen from America in a very long time. The battle of the debt crisis has left American people and the companies that hire them faithless and cautious around the markets. Today, the economic markets responded in what can possibly be called a “double-dip recessionary plunge”. This sense of insecurity not only surrounds the U.S. but has engulfed the European and Asian markets alike. American markets are reacting to crises in Europe because American investors are vulnerable to every fear of threat, and are ensuring that they make only gentle dents in their finances, unsure of what returns they will gain while investing in other uncertain businesses and people.
The point of the matter is that come tomorrow (and onward), the U.S. Congress is going to have to leave behind the arguments of yesterday's debt crisis and look forward in figuring out how to fix this mess. After the bullshit they just put the country through, it seems unlikely that our polarized government can come to a deal about anything concerning the economy. Republicans want to cut spending and keep taxes where they are. Democrats are looking to keep spending stable for the time being and create tax reform. The “funny” thing about the situation is that neither party is fully incorrect, there is no one-right-answer or party, and neither philosophy can be the only solution to our downfall.
Comprehensive tax reform is necessary but if they country cuts spending like the Republicans would like, its going to stagger the already slow flow of money in and out of the economy. If Democrats get their way and raise taxes, companies will be less reluctant to spend money hiring new employees. They're gripping their figurative check books (no one actually uses those anymore anyway) frightened that the government is going to take away half of what they're holding onto with taxes that are coming in. So clearly there isn't one right philosophy that will solve the economy's problems and get the country “back on track” (whatever that means).
The one thing I really don't understand is that people are pressing President Obama for not creating jobs. Well, I didn't know the president was a fucking job fairy and could snap his fingers and make jobs appear in cities around the country. I guess I didn't know because it's not fucking possible. The president cannot create jobs in the private sector, nor can the congress. What they can do is encourage job creation and I don't know what the president has done to stand in the way of that. What encourages job creation is spending – spending on companies, giving them the confidence that the government isn't going to wack them in the chest once they lay their guard down. What encourages job creation is faith in the government's ability to protect businesses as well as the people that work for them. And what encourages the economy to grow is a supportive government underneath it. So congress, my suggestion to you is to get your shit together, and actually get together. Put on your Sunday suit, look nice, suck in your gut full of pride (it looks horrible in pictures) and do some team bonding for the American people so you can restore faith in the government. Start discussing ways by which companies can encourage jobs. Start thinking about ways to encourage small business owners to expand their businesses, spend more and hire new people to produce. You raised the debt ceiling (although you made a mess while doing it), now use that to your benefit to get the economy moving, do some smart spending, do tax reform right afterward in a way that won't stab companies or people in the back, and smile while doing it cause your job is only guaranteed if the American people don't throw you the fuck out. Get your shit together, please.
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