Here's the way the political game is played: A problem is identified. Politicians talk about the problem. Sometimes commissions are formed to study the problem. And sometimes these commissions -- like the president's debt reduction commission -- actually produce real solutions to the problem.
Then what do politicians do? Do they take those recommendations and solve the problem? They do not. Instead, they revert to square one and start arguing about the issue again with no intention of solving the problem.
This never-ending circle is why so many Americans hate politics and politicians of both parties. They spend the money we give them, mostly to keep themselves in office, but they never solve critical issues.
The reaction to vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is a perfect example. A proposed solution is met with a campaign commercial about pushing Grandma over a cliff. It is an unserious response to a serious proposal. That's Washington. But it doesn't have to be if we vote for the right people to fix it.
I'm Cal Thomas in Washington.
Publication date: August 21, 2012
