A Fine Debt Deal

The bipartisan deal, announced yesterday by the White House, to raise the debt ceiling alongside significant spending cuts has not only helped avert an economic crisis, but has started a much needed process towards fixing America's fiscal situation.  As Speaker of the House, John Boehner (R-OH) said, "[It is not] the greatest deal in the world.... But it shows how much we've changed the terms of the debate in this town....”

The deal, which has yet to be voted on by either chamber of congress but is largely expected to pass, includes immediate cuts and an increase in the debt ceiling.  This is to be followed by a second round of cuts and debt ceiling raises, backed by the recommendation of a bipartisan committee.  Notably absent at this stage are any tax increases or a balanced budget amendment.  Both issues will be raised by the time of the second round of cuts.

Republicans should be quite happy with the outcome.  While the deal certainly has not achieved everything that the GOP desired, it is a good first step.  Reforming the fiscal condition of this country is a process.  After some 80 years of fiscal misguidance, it is far too ambitious to expect all of the needed changes to be implemented during one summer's battle over the debt ceiling.  What this battle has done is begin to change the national mentality.  It has rewritten the terms of debate in a manner that is more conducive to further reforming the fiscally unsound policies of the post-war era.  For the first time, debt limit increases have been linked to to spending cuts.  As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) bemoaned, the debt ceiling has been unconditionally raised 74 times since 1962.  This has now changed and each future debt limit increase will most certainly involve debates over additional cuts.

In one sense, it is probably good that the Republicans have not received everything that they want - and everything the economy needs - in this one deal.  If the GOP had managed to drive through a "dance-in-the-streets" deal - one complete with a balanced budget amendment, fulsome plan to reduce our national debt, and severe cuts to government spending and entitlements - the debate would be prematurely terminated.  This may have thus provided the needed fiscal changes, but would accordingly fail to make them lasting.  It would only be a matter of time before the left regained the position to scale back these reforms.

The fact is while these needed changes are apparent to many, especially on the right, they are unfortunately not obvious to all Americans.  Fixing policies is only half the game, changing the American mentality is the real crux of the battle.  Unfortunately, many Americans are not quite ready to completely revamp their thinking about deficit spending and the government's fiscal responsibilities.  Accordingly, winning too much, too soon could undermine the broader discussion that is needed.  America needs to realize the necessity of making these reforms and turn from its all-the-time-Keynesianism deficit spending mentality to one of long-term fiscal responsibility.  The process that the battle over the debt ceiling has started will provide the continued platform to present these arguments.  These reforms will only become permanent if the American ethos is severely altered. Spending beyond our means is unsustainable, but unfortunately much of America will need to be convinced of this through a drawn out debate.

Republicans should be sanguine with their success.  No, it is not perfect, but it is an amazing start.  For a party that only controls one-third of the government and has faced a Democratic opposition that started on the far-left of American politics, it has been an astounding feat to so change the national dialogue.  There is still much more work to done, and given the ingrained and long-established interests it will not be easy; yet a historical process has begun.  For this we should be proud.