The moral equivalent of equivalence: Ezra Klein criticizes Dave Weigel for symmetricism when Weigel suggests that Republicans begin the deficit debate by saying tax increases on the rich are “off the table, and Democrats begin it by saying Social Security and Medicare are off the table.” In fact, Klein says, Democrats have “put everything on the table.” Everything? Really? Can we talk about means-testing Medicare and Social Security now, and raise the normal retirement age and add Medicare deductibles and copyaments? Good news. … P.S.: Yes, the flexibility of two sides stances is not symmetrical. But it’s not clear the negotiating situation is symmetrical, thanks to an underlying non-equivalence: Cutting spending is harder than raising taxes. Once the GOPs agree to the latter the effective pressure to do the former disproportionately evaporates. … P.P.S.: If only these young journalists had some sort of private venue where they could iron out these complexities ahead of time. …
Journolists adrift …
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