You would scarcely know, from watching the current budget discussions in Washington, that one of the primary duties of the president and members of Congress is to provide responsible financing for the federal government.
In fact, it is hard to imagine that anything "responsible" is going on when just the current-year budget deficit is expected to be $1.4 trillion or more.
In case anyone is keeping track, that is increasing our $14.3 trillion national debt.
But are our leaders in Washington seeking, as a whole, to curb spending to reduce the deficit in a meaningful way?
The sad answer is evidently "No." Vice President Joe Biden is saying he believes spending will be reduced by somewhere in the neighborhood of only $1 trillion - over 10 to 12 years! And he considers that paltry long-range figure a significant cut in the face of our mammoth debt!
Republicans in Congress have proposed deeper cuts that take a more realistic view of what has to be done to get our annual deficits and total debt under control. But Democrats are using fear tactics and alarmist rhetoric to kill the proposals.
Instead, it is expected that soon Congress will simply raise the current $14.3 trillion "debt limit" - proving again that it doesn't limit debt. Lawmakers will likely do so without serious corresponding spending cuts.
How high must our $400 billion annual interest costs on the debt rise before we get serious about this problem? Isn't it troubling that the president and many in Congress aren't even ready to start facing the crisis?