Tom Coburn emerges as voice of reason in the Senate on the deficit, taxes, and the middle class

Ryan Streeter

Today on Fox's Sunday program, Tom Coburn said, "I think you'll see 15 to 18 percent unemployment rate. I think you'll see a 8 to 9 percent decline in GDP. I think you'll see the middle class destroyed."

Coburn was talking about what will happen if we don't wake up and deal with the drivers of our deficit head-on. Though he says he's not trying to scare anyone, he said "we're going to experience apocalyptic pain. And it's going to be out of control."

Reflecting on the tax deal, Coburn said:

We made an easy decision to pass the tax cuts, and unemployment insurance compensation, as well as the decrease in social security payments. We didn't do the hard work, and the hard work is eliminating the part of the government that aren't working (sic), that aren't effective, and that is not even in our constitutional role.

Coburn is speaking more sensibly about the deficit than any member of the Senate. He voted for the deficit commission's recommendations, and his recent multi-pronged approach to draw attention to wasteful spending has been effective.

And today, he tied it all together: if we don't face our problems, it will destroy our middle class - which is already on shaky ground. Let's hope Coburn gets more airtime in the new year. 

Comments

[Sandy Salt]

It is about time someone in Washington was willing to tell it like it is. We are out of money, we've spent the kids' money, and now we are working on the grand kids' money. If we don't start cutting spending and government now there is little hope for the future.