Forget Syria, we have our own quagmire

Letter to the Editor,

It is at least arguable that dealings between Iran and a consortium of Western powers is proving to be much easier than resolving Washington, D.C.’s very discouraging partisan disputes.

Sen. John McCain is on record as saying that he has not seen a more toxic political atmosphere in this country than the one we’re experiencing right now. To say the least of it, all this talk about governmental shutdowns and debt defaults places the United States in a position that is both ridiculous and tragic at the same time.

We call ourselves a superpower, but it is a very strange superpower indeed that cannot even manage the routine mechanics of formulating a budget for its central government. Foreigners looking at us must truly think that we have a bunch of clowns at the helm.

The heart of the problem, it seems to me, is simply that our federal system simply cannot deal properly with modern-day phenomena like our “Tea Party” Republicans and their like.

These individuals are so ferociously dedicated to the principles of small government and economic laissez-faire that they view anything less than the full achievement of their ideological objectives as betrayal and failure.

“Rule of ruin” may as well be their operative motto. They are so filled with rage against what they view as the liberal machine that they don’t mind at all imperiling this country’s international economic position.

By comparison, Iran and Syria are a piece of cake for the Obama team.

— Frank Goheen

Camas, Wash.