"Who Will Blink First?"

When I was a kid, I would engage in all types of childish games; "step on a crack, break your mother's back", "I dare you to step over this line" or "knock this chip off of my shoulder" are a few of the things children will say on a playground to evoke a reaction from their peers. As boys get older, our "games" get more personal; remarks about another guy's mother could trigger a fist fight. At that age, everything is a test of manhood; you know, a "spitting contest", "who will blink first". Ladies I blame you for all of this; we behave like morons to impress all of you, so try to suppress your laughter. Personally, I've found out over the years, a good sense of humor will go farther than "fisticuffs", when trying to impress a lady. In high school, we participate in sports to impress girls and increase our "rep" with other guys; it's all about getting our way! Life has a way of showing us we will not always get things our way. We don't always "get the girl" or get that promotion that we are sure "we deserve". We learn that, at times, we must yield to those who are in charge. Our budget has been an issue for several months without resolution. Last November, the electorate said America is in financial trouble of the most severe type. Our deficit is bordering on "science fiction" in its' magnitude, and it seems we are throwing pebbles at a behemoth in our attempts to solve our debt-disaster. We have seen the House of Representatives offer a proposal to eliminate 61 billion dollars from the budget, and we have seen the Senate, under Harry Reid, stonewall this proposal as too severe. In actuality, we need a much deeper cut than the one the House suggests, but it's a start. A 14 trillion dollar debt is larger than most people can comprehend. Although 61 billion dollars is a staggering amount of money, in relation to 14 trillion, it is not even "pocket change"! It seems that a Federal shutdown is imminent. Neither House of Congress is budging on their numbers. It seems that the Republicans understand what happened last November, and the Democrats don't. Every economist with any sense is saying America must make a turn-around in spending or we will be another Greece, and it will be soon! President Obama had Representative Boehner and Senator Reid in a private discussion at the White House which seemed to have little success. Mr. Obama used his best "intimidation" tactics, but I don't believe John Boehner is going to blink. Perhaps, a government shutdown will send a message to all of Washington's free spenders. The days of "pork" and "earmarks" must come to an end; the voters are tired of "Cowboy Poetry" and "Bridges to Nowhere". Obama and Reid have "dug in their heels", and so has Boehner. What we now face is this: Who is in charge; American voters, or Pork Barrel Politics?"