John Boehner's Fiscal and Political Dilemma

Despite the noisy political clash created by the looming fiscal cliff and the weeks of lukewarm bargaining between President Obama and Speaker Boehner, America appears ready to celebrate Christmas with no solution in sight. What is surprising is the relatively miniscule dollar differences between the two men by Washington standards. By almost any measure, the difference is $20 billion -- Obama wants to raise annual taxes $20 billion more than Boehner does, and Boehner wants to cut annual entitlement expenditures $20 billion more than Obama does. AND, compared to the $2.6 trillion the government expects to collect next year and to the $3.6 trillion it plans to spend, $20 billion is loose change - less than 1 percent of what the government already is on track to raise and spend. Relative to the US economy, which should generate well over $15 trillion next year, $20 billion is even smaller. Many analysts and financial journalists describe it as too small to go over the fiscal cliff for, because doing that would put serious brakes on the US economy over time. But, dear readers, that analysis misses the real issue -- the real issue is the huge $1 trillion difference between the 2013 federal government income of $2.6 trillion and its spending plans at $3.6 trillion. Speaker Boehner and the GOP are standing between Obama's and the Democrats' continuing annual $1 trillion addition to the national debt and the general belief of American citizens and financial markets that a trillion dollar annual debt increase is dangerously unsustainable. Yesterday, Speaker Boehner tried to get his House GOP majority to give in a little on this increasing debt issue. He failed because there are enough fiscally conservative tea party and libertarian GOP House members to prevent giving at all on their fundamental belief that America is at a watershed - the runaway national debt must be mastered now or it will be too late. They are adament in their belief that America is doomed if she continues on the Democrat-sponsored tax-and-spend socially leftist vision of government. Speaker Boehner is in a lonely place. He can give in to Obams and pass a compromise bill with votes provided by Democrat House members, in which case his fellow GOP House members will strip him of his Speakership in January. Or he can refuse to compromise, go over the fiscal cliff with Obama and keep his Speakership. Neither option is easy. Either moves America into unknown territory. Historically, House Speakers faced with such unpopular and draconian choices have found the nerve and political savvy to save the day and America with it. I wish Speaker John Boehner Godspeed and courage in the days ahead. On his smalltown Ohio shoulders may well rest the future of the Republic.