Time for a little truth about the Super Committee.

Original Commentary by J Smithson

The Chart, below, is from George Mason U., but sourced with CBO numbers. Understand that while spending is the problem, more specifically, it is over spending that is killing this nation. In other words, it is the national debt, now at 15 trillion and counting, that is promising to bury our future. The blue line on the chart, is the annual budget as it increases via baseline budgeting. The red line is that same budget but with the 1.2 trillion as a spending fix (cuts and increased taxation). Should the Super Committee reach its stated goal of 1.2 in spending cuts over the course of the next ten years, the impact will be almost without measure. In effect, the final work of this committee is worthless. Understand that no one is talking about reducing the national debt. Cutting 1.2 trillion in spending, "saves" half a trillion in acquired debt over ten freaking years! During that same period of time we will add 16 to 20 trillion in debt (plus interest).

If you are a regular to this blog, you know that I pay almost no attention to this event . . . . . . the Super Committee and its assignment. Statistically, it is meaningless. Paul Ryan suggested 6 trillion in cuts and was ridiculed for his detailed suggestion. Those who challenged Ryan have no concern for the financial health of this country. We simply have to stop spending. We have to stop spending increases. We have to get rid of "baseline" budgeting.** We have to stop pretending that taxing the rich is the solution to anything. Unless you are talking about pulling [at least] 5 or 6 trillion in tax revenues out of the rich, the ongoing debate is just plain silly.

What does all this mean? In the end, it means we need to vote in a change to the mindset of Washington D.C. , and we are a long way from this assignment being completed. Understand this, we would not be having this discussion if it were not for the T.E.A movement, PERIOD. Understand that the T.E.A movement began with its rebellion to the Establishment GOP. While the TEA Movement wants Obama "out of there," the big spenders in the GOP remain in the sights of this movement. While Occupy is running around, screaming, "Give me, give me, give me," the TEA Party is actually getting things done. The difference between the two movements is the difference between a group of adults and a playground full of screaming, crying children. In the end, the TEA Party is still there, still determined, and still the single most powerful influence in the current political process -- and it knows the truth about this Super Committee nonsense.

** Baseline budgeting is the automatic increase of 5 to 8 percent to each federal agency or program. This occurs simply as the consequence of the passing of time. No legislative approval or process is involved. On average, baseline budgeting adds 6.2% to governmental spending, each and every year.