Wall Street Journal reporter Gerald Seib notes that little time is left before looming demands of Social Security and Medicare overshadow other government budget problems. The shipwreck that has been predicted for decades is almost upon us just as our government has thrown all its life jackets out to the financial sector.
Notably, Seib sees the bright side of this perfect storm, which is an obligation and an opportunity for politicians to directly address these scary budget problems:
Why not try to see whether the nation can turn pain into an opportunity to make an equally momentous change in the way it conducts its affairs?
….The test of Mr. Obama’s presidential leadership is whether he can convince his own party, the Republican opposition and the public that pain also represents an opportunity to do more than muddle through.
Glendale’s upcoming election presents a great opportunity for our community to ask incumbents and challengers exactly how they are going to address this city’s looming budget problems. Difficult decisions will have to be made in this city. Elected officials will have to work with each other and with city staff to pull the community through this recession and its aftermath.
Voters: start devising your own tests of local leadership. Confirm that your candidates have both solid plans and good political and management skills to address our city’s budget crisis.