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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Failure rules!

Our elected officials are continually entertaining, in a Beavis and Butt-Head sort of way. It was no surprise that the supercommittee came up empty, because you cannot solve a difficult problem when you come to the table with pre-existing conditions. So what is the suggested answer? A balanced budget amendment!

As if you can legislate intelligence when all you have to work with is stupidity. If we have to balance the national budget without raising taxes and without reductions in the military, then someone has to recognize the elephant in the room and admit to the people that Social Security and Medicare will go away.

Let’s see how that plays in Florida and Palm Springs.

Daniel J. Schaffer

Spokane

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