Nobody expects the president or his advisers to wear sackcloth and ashes. But our national deficit obsession was a disaster -- and it was -- they should tell us what went wrong. If an era is truly ending, they should have taken this opportunity to tell the public why. And if austerity is really dead, as it should be, the president should explain why activist government must take its place.
A post-austerity budget should do more, much more, to address the critical problems our nation still faces. Until one of the parties presents a proposal like that, our society won't get the fundamental debate -- or the choice of ideologies -- that it so richly deserves. As long as our leaders refuse to embrace time-tested methods for restoring jobs and growth, the Era of Austerity will still be with us.
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