Nothing Succeeds Like...FAILURE!

The failure of the Congressional Super Committee to reduce the federal deficit should be viewed as a resounding success by both major political parties. 

Not only did they NOT achieve their target of a $1.2 trillion deficit reduction, their entire reason for being, but they did not achieve even $1 of deficit reduction!  I am not being sarcastic here. Both parties stacked this committee with their own ideologues, with firm marching orders:

Republicans: no tax increases;

Democrats: no entitlement cuts without tax increases.

Both contingents on the Super Committee brought back the precise result which was demanded of them by their respective caucuses.  No tax increases…no entitlement cuts…No Deal!

Many Americans are astounded by this result, this apparent failure, or at least many Americans sound like they are astounded by it. I am not, nor should you be. 

On the same note, I am not disappointed in the outcome either.  Already signed-up for Medicare and becoming eligible for Social Security next month, I certainly do not want to see either of those programs cut in any way whatsoever.  I definitely do not want to see any of my taxes going up, either. 

I think this exquisite stalemate protects my interests in good way through its inertia, the intransigence of our divided Congress.

There is another, more important reason for joy over this successful failure. A Super Committee is not any part of the prescribed function of our government under the U.S. Constitution. Laws (and budgets) are to be made by the Congress, meaning by the House of Representatives for their specific part, and by the Senate for their own part. 

We have a bi-cameral legislature with two separate and distinct chambers (House & Senate) by design.  Our representation in Congress, meaning yours and mine, is the responsibility of our individual House Representative, and of our two senators representing New York State. 

There is no provision in the Constitution for these people to relinquish or abdicate their individual responsibilities to function as our representatives in Congress by delegating our interests to some “SUPER” “COMMITTEE”.

The failure of this Super Committee should be celebrated as a major victory for the rule of law in America, and for the predominance and preservation of our Constitution and the form of government it sets forth.