U.S.: Let’s Get this Debt Issue Over and Done With

Published in Libération
(France) on 18 July 2011
by Fabrice Rousselot (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Marisa Burnside. Edited by Derek Ha.
If you want a taste of the climate in which the White House will steer its course in 2012, you need only take a look at the current negotiations taking place in Washington about raising the debt ceiling.

This step is a routine exercise (the ceiling has been raised 10 times in 10 years). However, the discussions between Obama and the Republicans have become an emblem of the ideological battle being played out in Washington.

The president is ready to make concessions to limit public expenditure, but he also wants to put an end to the tax exemptions for the wealthiest. This seems reasonable given the current state of the American economy.

However, there you have it: The Republicans (more precisely, those recently elected by the tea party) don't want to hear talk of a tax increase, and they have been blocking everything for weeks.

Even the Americans have had enough of it and cannot express a greater disgust at these party politics that have immobilized Washington since the start of the year.

The deadline is set for Aug. 2. After that, the United States could find itself in default of payment. That wouldn't necessarily be the end of the world, but it would be ludicrous seeing as an agreement is clearly within everyone's reach.


Si vous voulez avoir un avant-goût du climat dans lequel se tiendra la course à la Maison Blanche en 2012, il suffit de regarder du côté des actuelles négociations qui se tiennent à Washington autour du relèvement du plafond de la dette. 

L'exercice est généralement un exercice de routine (le plafond a été relevé dix fois en dix ans) mais les discussions entre Obama et les républicains sont devenues emblématiques de la bataille idéologique qui se joue à Washington.

Le Président est prêt à faire des concessions pour limiter les dépenses publiques, mais il veut aussi mettre fin aux exemptions fiscales des plus riches. Ce qui semble raisonnable vu l'état de l'économie américaine. 

Mais voilà, les républicains, et plus précisément les nouveaux élus du Tea Party, ne veulent pas entendre parler d'une hausse des impôts. Et ils bloquent tout depuis des semaines. 

Même les Américains en ont assez, et n'en peuvent plus de dire leur dégoût de cette politique politicienne qui immobilise Washington depuis de le début de l'année. 

Le deadline est fixé au 2 août. Après cela, les Etats-Unis pourraient se retrouver en situation de défaut de paiement. Cela ne serait pas forcément la fin du monde, mais ce serait ridicule, vu qu'un accord est clairement à la portée de tout le monde.
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