Perhaps the greatest sign that the “debt debate” in Washington lacks substance or any real concern about the deficit is that there is never an actual objective goal, like a deficit that is some percent of GDP by 2022. Instead the calls seem always focused on demanding a single grand bargain deal for “$4 trillion in reductions.” This oft repeated call rarely acknowledges that without an agreed baseline this number is meaningless, and most bizarrely ignores the simple mathematical fact that the same level of reduction could also be achieved through a series of small deficit-related bills.

Instead of the media spreading myths about how powerless our politicians are to change anything, it should tell the American people what they actually could do if they wanted to. The American people deserve to know the truth that our politicians can actually fulfill many of their promises and that they are simply choosing not to.