Honesty. We want it from our leaders. We need it to have any kind of idea what the hell is happening. We deserve it as citizens of a democratic republic. But as Mr. Joel wrote, "everyone is so untrue."

Who would have ever thought that a summer could be defined by something as arcane as a vote on a debt limit? But it's happening. Republicans are essentially holding the country hostage, demanding that the rich keep their tax cuts, and that social insurance programs that help the poor and elderly get slashed (I refuse to use the stupid word 'entitlement,' as the term itself cedes the argument). Oh yeah, and the defense budget gets a double-digit increase, so no austerity for that crew.

Hovering above this ridiculous Washington puppet show are the portentous thunderheads of unemployment, economic contraction, and general ecological wind-down. The June numbers were just released, and the official rate is back up to 9.2%. Job creation is anemic, consumer spending is crippled, and businesses are sitting on piles of cash, unwilling to invest in growth amidst declining demand. The Fed sits off to the side, wringing its hands and furrowing its brow. QE2 is over, and suddenly inflation is the economic stalking beast. Never mind that wage growth, a crucial part of any inflationary spiral, seems about as likely as the Harry Potter finale finishing up with the ghost of Rodney Dangerfield poking his head in from the side and saying, "Hey everybody! We're all gonna get laid!"

Going back to the debt ceiling dust-up, let's at least give Republicans their due on something. When they say 'no tax increases and no new spending,' they mean it. Sure, Boehner may eventually have to torpedo his own future by giving in a little bit to Obama, but he's certainly playing a hell of a game if chicken. But there's also a very good chance that Boehner, Mitch McConnell, and Eric Cantor are true believers to the end. They may actually expect the super-rich (now magically transformed into 'Job Creators') to suddenly open their gargantuan wallets and start hiring people out of the goodness of their hearts, even though no one has any money left to buy any more crap.

But I would actually bet that the GOP has something different in mind. They may give lip service to the idea that austerity in a time of deep recession will somehow spur economic growth, even though economists of every ideological stripe say that this is just not so. But more probably, they actually welcome a painful economic contraction, as that is the only real medicine for a country bloated on Big Gub'mit, easy credit, and reckless spending. Let's remember that the main story line of Atlas Shrugged, the urtext of many ascendant Republicans, is that a corrupt economy crumbles into chaos while a noble, virtuous, industrious elite repairs off to a secluded shangri-la to rebuild society from the ground up, one feed store and blacksmith shop at a time. At some point, we need to acknowledge that a consistent conservatism may see suffering, poverty, and death as the unavoidable consequences of weaning people off of the government teat. After all, programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Food Stamps actually keep people alive. If the elderly suddenly have less money and less health care, it's not like they will dust off their resumes and go back to work at the Dairy Queen to make ends meet. People will just end up eating more poorly and living in more squalid surroundings, which will send many to earlier graves.

I'm not using scare tactics here, really I'm not. I'm just saying that more of the money in social insurance programs goes towards direct purchase of life-sustaining commodities than if that same money were to be returned to wealthy taxpayers or invested in some business venture somewhere. You take that away, and there's simply going to be less health overall, and thus less life. And again, I think that this has to be the stance of a consistent conservative philosophy. You want to shrink down government until you can drown it in a bathtub? Fine -- but be honest with people that this will cause unpleasant but necessary pain for many, and for a long time. It's national castor oil, but ultimately it will prove good for us. That's just the honesty I want from the GOP. I don't agree with their assessment of things, but they can at least get some balls and tell the truth, and not hide behind the ridiculous idea that brutal austerity in a lite-depression will magically produce entrepreneurial flowers as far as the eye can see. 

Now the Dems, who are peddling just as much bullshit as the Republicans. President Obama is not a dick -- I'll stay away from that moniker. But he's proving to be as untalented at courageous governing as he is talented at campaigning. In my mind, his play-every-angle shtick has played itself out. He can't be all things to all people. And I'm not sure if he's more interested in his legacy or with fixing the horrific conditions that are laying waste to his country. There just doesn't seem to be any urgency in his presentation. There is a lot of seriousness, but no desperation. Urgency and desperation are absolutely necessary for him to connect with the terrified public, and I just don't think he can fake it. 

Aside from Obama, the Democratic party is adrift. Aside from stalwarts like Kucinich, Sanders, and Frank, the rest of the blue donkeys/dogs are pro-growth, pro-business, pro-Wall Street, etc. Democrats are simply not conversant with some of the most important liberal issues of the day: Peak Oil, economic contraction, and ecological collapse. Again, they talk a good game about Green Jobs, Green This and Green That -- but this is just a thin overlay, sitting on top of a stupendously conservative base ideology. They still subscribe to quaint ideas like full employment, economic growth, and maximum consumption. They expect housing values to 'recover' and everyone to go back to business as usual. All we need is some more stimulus, or a jobs program, or whatever. And actually, in the recent debt ceiling debate, Dems are moving closer and closer to the austerity-minded conservatives anyway, making the fake comparison of the government to a household, and how we all need to tighten our belts, etc. Again, no semblance of truth in these ramblings. It's just more of the same: political gamesmanship and relentless spin, more geared to raising money and winning elections.

So we're left with a summer of untruths, and with the slim hope that some cut-and-paste compromise will keep the bond vigilantes at bay for another couple years, while the country swirls slowly down the drain.