Budget clock: Here we go again ...

If it weren't so scary, it would be funny -- the continuing battle over who gets to spend what in Washington and how much.

The only constant in the argument over the impending cuts and the future of the deficit is that we are still spending more than we are taking in, and there is only one group left to pick up that bill -- the taxpayers.

Someone's view on government spending depends on their perspective.

For instance, if your check comes from the government, you might be a little more in favor of the rest of the country paying more taxes. The same is true if you are a beneficiary of government programs. Why would you want to cut those?

The problem remains, just as it was when the first fiscal cliff hit, that we cannot keep going in the manner in which we have been operating during the last few years.

There is not an unending supply of money, no matter how simple it might seem to suggest that we just keep increasing the debt limit.

Eventually, that bill will have to be paid.

And the other reality is that if there are fewer and fewer people working, there will not be enough taxpayers to cover the difference.

And so here we are again, facing yet another deadline -- but trying to answer the same old question.

The only truth in this argument is that we are getting close to the time when we have to decide which way we will be turning.

Kicking the can down the road is fast becoming an unavailable option.

Published in Editorials on February 7, 2013 10:59 AM