Here’s a truth: The U.S. is out of money.

Here’s another one: We’re running out of time.

Contrast the reality with the un-reality at the core of political procrastination in Washington.

Here’s an example of the latter:

“When you’re talking about a major $1.2 trillion or more deficit reduction plan, there are some things you’re willing to consider that you might not in the context of a much smaller agreement.”

That statement was made by one of the incumbent congressional negotiators, namely Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. He, and he wasn’t alone, misses the point.

Here’s a flash, not just for Congressman Van Hollen, but for all of us: Tell President Barack H. Obama to cancel his announced debt ceiling increase of $1.2 trillion or more.

Despite the symmetry of the numbers as used by both democrats — if challenged with the flash of momentary reality that accompanies un-spun Truth — you can anticipate the likely response from either incumbent, even before the words leave their proverbial political lips: “We need the debt ceiling increase to buy time during which we will work on a plan to reduce the deficit.”

Don’t buy it. That is, don’t buy, either the cited statement or the debt increase.

Here’s another truth: Playing with borrowed money means playing with borrowed time. Before we continue, a brief digression.

My last commentary piece, “They say we’re running out of time,” focused on The Doomsday Clock. Each periodic reset of the symbolic Doomsday Clock as conceived by the Board of Atomic Scientists, serves to reflect their updated opinion expressed as: “… how many minutes we all have left before the end of everything.” The factors the board chooses to use when deciding the degree of any reset of the clock are based on their view of concerns about nuclear catastrophe, climate change, bio-terror, etc.

Back to point …

Paraphrasing that title, “We’re running out of time” appropriately describes the lack of serious responsible action by federal incumbents to reduce spending. The column describes the current U.S. debt situation, which begs the question: When did the problem begin?

Way back. 

I’ll be beneficent here. Back then, the reasons for some spending may have been innocent. But, then again, only those genuine bleeding hearts can be found innocent by a peer jury of taxpaying citizens because soon the spending arteries of the government treasury ruptured. Instead of applying the necessary tourniquet to halt the spending, elected officials let the taxpayers bleed out. 

That’s why the political manipulation of class warfare, sowed by envy, et al, is and continues to be so effective politically.

How did financial matters get worse?

Spending continued to skyrocket. And rather than making responsible fiscal adjustments, politicians dramatically increased credit borrowing in order to feign balancing the budget.

That resulted in debt, more debt, explosive debt and today, overwhelming government debt.

The problems can, and should be laid, on the doorsteps of almost all past and current Washington incumbents.

Ditto the Fed.

Now, back to the opening truth. The United States is out of money. Political and monetary games have been and continue to be played, even as your eyes do their job of reading this piece. It is more than sad that so many elected officials and others continue to avoid doing their job. 

Despite initiatives and efforts by the ‘fewer, often newer’ congressional incumbents, who have tried to reduce government spending or hold the line against further runaway spending and borrowing, the “so many,” including leaders among Senate and House incumbents, thwart responsible change.

The obvious conclusion: Incumbents in the latter, larger, group have proven they are unable or unwilling to change their political attitudes and stop the spending excesses. When questioned publicly, they squirm. Instead, the back room deal is preferred; where, tradeoffs can promote personal power while they craftily orchestrate the procrastination infused into the legislative process.

Equally obvious these days:  It is wise to be wary of the “take what we can get when we can” strategy. That was and remains a political approach but one that only works when sufficient time remains on the clock. And, wise to remember, that there are those who may prefer, for reasons known only to themselves, to run out the clock. If that happens, the heavy hand of government will become heavier as statists “occupy Every Street.” One more time: We’re running out of time. At best, this piece is a Two Minute Warning.

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications. Contact him at: RichOlivastro@gmail.com or by phone at 1-877-RichSpeaks.