The next big battle

Now that the Super Committee has failed. What do we have to look forward to?

Well, we could look forward to imminent military action in Iran (Trust me, with the way things are going, SOMEONE is going to put troops in there). That doesn't mean the U.S. will be putting troops there, but I am sure we will send drones or something. We love some drones.

Will it be the big 2012 presidential battle? Perhaps. The next year's election cycle is ramping up to be one of the most brutal, partisan contests in ages (OK, that's probably a bit much). Both sides have tons of vitriolic speech chambered in their throats. It is going to be ugly and depressing. I've got a stash of wine and whiskey to get me through the second half of the year.

No, it won't be those two. The next big political battle will be to accept the $1.2 trillion in cuts set up by The Budget Control Act of 2011. You know, the act that created the Super Committee and is supposed to help us reduce our deficit. That thing.

You see, U.S. Congress is trying to repeal the triggers. That's right! Politico reported they are trying to repeal the triggers on military spending, but I doubt they will get any support doing that. But, they might get support repealing all of the cuts. So, Congress made a law, the law's committee failed to do what was intended, so now they are backtracking. That's like when I tell myself I can't play video games until I finish my homework, but halfway through finishing my homework, I give up and play video games anyway. Nobody is policing me except myself, so why not break the rules anyway?

The great thing is Congress does have someone policing them. President Barack Obama said he will veto any attempts to repeal the triggers. This means Obama is saying, "You set up these rules and now I am going to make sure you follow them." Of course, Congress could just send someone to negotiate with Obama. I'm sure he would drop the veto threat and probably give them the family dog. He is just that good at negotiating.

I want Obama to stand by his threat, but I don't think the country and handle the triggers without revenue increases. As I have said time and time again, the triggers are going to push more workers into the private market and that is going to exacerbate job growth. That is mathematics people. More people looking for less jobs means higher unemployment. It isn't set in stone that it will happen, but it is fairly damn close.

It is an interesting moment now. The federal government failed to do something. Even when the Super Committee has ridiculous power (No amendments and no filibustering on its recommendation) they still couldn't get anything done. Does Obama take the hard line and make the country and Congress take its medicine? Or do we wait on the medicine and see if we can't find a different cure?

Who knows.