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Supercommittee's Failure is a Moral Failure

By Jim Wallis
The Supercommittee. Illustration by DonkeyHotey via Wylio (http://bit.ly/rD3M3A)
Nov 22, 2011
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The failure of the Congressional Supercommittee to put forth any kind of plan for addressing our nation’s long term deficits is a sign of how dysfunctional our political system has become.

While the American people are looking for solutions to our long term debt, Congress is controlled by ideology. While the unemployed are looking for jobs, school teachers, fireman, policeman and other public servants are getting cut out of the budget.

While faith based non-profits are working to do more for those in need, politicians beholden to wealthy donors are cutting the funding desperately needed.

Congressional Republicans refused to compromise on tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires while advocating disproportionate cuts to programs that serve low–income people. Christian leaders have united in their condemnation of this failed moral leadership and now the Republican base is breaking ranks.

Sixty percent of white evangelicals support raising taxes on those making more than a million a year and 58 percent oppose cutting federal programs that support low-income people.

The Republicans have been taken over by an extreme ideology that their political base doesn't even support. And the power of money has corrupted our political system.

What was lost with the supercommittee was a responsible and balanced way to reduce the deficit, while protecting both the poor and the common good. Very sad and alarming for the future.

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The Supercommittee. Illustration by DonkeyHotey via Wylio (http://bit.ly/rD3M3A)
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