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Notice that I pose these questions not as either-or choices but rather as complementary opportunities. But then again, maybe we have already decided that the price, whatever it is, is too high. If so, get used to the new normal.

What Our Representatives Owe Us

The way I see it, when citizens exercise their voices -- as our Tea Party friends did in 2010, and our progressive neighbors did in Wisconsin earlier this year -- it is not just refreshing; it is also vitally important to the longevity of our republic! But it shouldn't take ticked-off citizens to get those we elect to exercise their duties responsibly -- especially during times like these.

Those we send to Congress and our state legislatures must be, at all times, the honest brokers on our behalf. They must be fearless in enacting policies that encourage greater economic development and growth. They must be visionary in their efforts to foster a climate that promotes job creation, while at the same time remaining responsive to the welfare of those often left behind as growth takes hold.

But above all else, they must be honest about the situation we are in and the sometimes narrow and painful choices before us. And we must be open to hearing the truth about what it will take to recover.

Beyond Winners and Losers

This brings me back to that theater of the absurd to which we've had front-row seats these past few days (the sad part is, we can't even ask for our money back because the players have already spent it).

After waiting to exhale for more than three months, the president, the House and the Senate finally agreed to terms, and the measure passed Congress. As the Washington Post noted, "[t]he agreement brings to an end the self-created crisis that has consumed Washington, rattled Wall Street, and shaken confidence in the American political system at home and abroad."