It’s Lose-Lose vs. Win-Win-Win-Win-Win.
Commentary by Thomas L. Friedman,
NYTimes, March 17, 2013. “It strikes me as crazy that one of the obvious solutions to
our budget, energy and environmental problems — the one that would be the least
painful and have the best long-term impact (a carbon tax) — is off the table.
Meanwhile, the solution that is as dumb as the day is long — a budget sequester
that slashes spending indiscriminately — is on the table. Shrinking the tax
deduction for charity is on the table. Shrinking Social Security, Medicare and
Medicaid for the poor are on the table. But a carbon tax that could close the
deficit and clean the air, weaken petro-dictators, strengthen the dollar, drive
clean-tech innovation and still leave some money to lower corporate and income
taxes is off the table. So the solutions that are lose-lose and divisive are on
the table, while the solution that is win-win-win-win-win — and has both
liberal and conservative supporters — is off the table…
“Alas, right now both sides are trying to
inflict maximum pain on the other, rather than framing the debate as: 'Here’s
the world we’re living in; here’s what we need to thrive; and, if we cut and
tax here, we can invest in these 21st-century growth engines over here.' Our
goal is not to balance the budget. It’s to make America great.”
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