It Only Takes Seven

Submitted by David Walker on October 5, 2011
Tags: 
seven
Congress
super committee

The Congressional Super Committee tasked with reducing America’s projected deficits and debt can get a deal done. As a practical matter, failure is not an option. Our country simply cannot afford the consequences of additional partisan and ideological gridlock. Furthermore, failing to reach a deal would trigger deep, across-the-board budget cuts to defense and other areas of spending without adequate forethought and with real, adverse consequences.

It only takes seven to give this a chance for success. If just seven members of the 12 person Super Committee agree on a deal, these automatic cuts can be averted.

Seven weeks remain for the Super Committee to reach a deal. The stakes are high enough for these six Democrats and six Republicans to use this as an opportunity to get a deal done and to begin to put our fiscal house in order.

Reaching a deal will

  1. Prove to America that Congress can get something done.
  2. Raise our standing with the credit ratings agencies by showing that we are taking steps to put our nation’s finances in order.
  3. Show our foreign lenders that we are committed to putting our financial house in order.
  4. Send a signal to federal agencies that Congress knows across-the-board spending reductions are not the best way to go.
  5. Show the rest of Congress that bipartisan progress can be made to address the country’s most pressing problems.

Failure to reach a deal will

  1. Serve to re-enforce how dysfunctional Congress has become.
  2. Bring us closer to a “tipping point” and the possibility of having a debt crisis in the U.S.

We all must stand up -- united -- and make a statement that politicians must put their labels aside and work together for the good of the country. How can we let our voices be heard? By using the NoLabels.org website to write and submit a letter to the editor to your local newspaper supporting the Super Committee and urging at least seven members to reach a deal.

With seven weeks left to get seven votes, America’s opportunity to put its fiscal house in order is now. The time to bridge the chasm between Democrats and Republicans is now. The time to restore hope in the American Dream is now. Let’s take action.

David Walker is a former U.S. comptroller general and is the Founder and CEO of the Comeback America Initiative. He is also a No Labels Co-Founder.