Thoreau compares the US to other mature democracies. I have to say that fiscally, the US system seems spectacularly flawed. In Britain right now, even a coalition government has to actually balance the books and cannot pass the task off by blaming the opposition. The Lib-Tories will be held directly responsible for the pain this causes, and they will have a reasonable amount of time, with a solid majority, to prove (or not) that their fiscal strategy is working. Not so Obama. And if we get divided government again – and it sure looks like it – what are the odds that the Dems will refuse to budge on entitlements and the Republicans will obstruct any tax increases … until they fight in another two years' time.
In general, I can see the wisdom of preventing swift government action. But when a sinking imperial power is facing fiscal collapse, delay and the avoidance of real accountability can be the seed of a sudden implosion. Or default.
The Dish 