The Spending Cuts Are Two Sacred Cows Strapped Together With a Time Bomb

The Spending Cuts Are Two Sacred Cows Strapped Together With a Time Bomb

The Spending Cuts Are Two Sacred Cows Strapped Together With a Time Bomb

This "Super" Committee is actually a ticking time bomb strapped to two sacred cows: military spending and social spending.

Facebook
Twitter
Email
Flipboard
Pocket

Once the debt "deal" was reached, Congress and the White House decided that a yet-to-be-formed "Super Committee" of 12 members of the House and Senate should decide exactly how to butcher the budget. It is no secret that Republicans are opposed to military cuts and Democrats are opposed to social cuts—but will this generalization be productive as a point of compromise? Or will it simply hold each side hostage until the Republicans bluff their way towards bad policy, using the alternative—automatic cuts—as a bluff to force a deal exclusively on their terms?

Ari Melber joins Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC to break down how this "Super" Committee is actually a ticking time bomb strapped to two sacred cows: military spending and social spending.

Anna Lekas Miller

Thank you for reading The Nation!

We hope you enjoyed the story you just read. It’s just one of many examples of incisive, deeply-reported journalism we publish—journalism that shifts the needle on important issues, uncovers malfeasance and corruption, and uplifts voices and perspectives that often go unheard in mainstream media. For nearly 160 years, The Nation has spoken truth to power and shone a light on issues that would otherwise be swept under the rug.

In a critical election year as well as a time of media austerity, independent journalism needs your continued support. The best way to do this is with a recurring donation. This month, we are asking readers like you who value truth and democracy to step up and support The Nation with a monthly contribution. We call these monthly donors Sustainers, a small but mighty group of supporters who ensure our team of writers, editors, and fact-checkers have the resources they need to report on breaking news, investigative feature stories that often take weeks or months to report, and much more.

There’s a lot to talk about in the coming months, from the presidential election and Supreme Court battles to the fight for bodily autonomy. We’ll cover all these issues and more, but this is only made possible with support from sustaining donors. Donate today—any amount you can spare each month is appreciated, even just the price of a cup of coffee.

The Nation does not bow to the interests of a corporate owner or advertisers—we answer only to readers like you who make our work possible. Set up a recurring donation today and ensure we can continue to hold the powerful accountable.

Thank you for your generosity.

Ad Policy
x