The liberal world and the magical coin!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013

After that, Barack and the beanstalk: Should Barack Obama mint a $1 trillion platinum coin?

Kevin Drum keeps saying no, annoying some of his commenters. Paul Krugman, Atrios and Matt Yglesias have all said yes.

Would it be legal for Obama to mint such a magical coin? Drum says no; we can’t tell you. Here at THE HOWLER, we’re more struck by the fact that this bizarre discussion is even taking place.

Should Obama mint a $1 trillion coin? When leading liberals say he should, we’re acknowledging a basic fact: Public discourse has come to an end in this country. As liberals, we are completely unable to argue a case with the American people. Nor can we assume that some group of national elders will step in to derail the idea of going over the debt limit cliff.

(Although that may very well happen.)

One side wants to stop paying the nation’s bills. In response, the other side proposes minting a magical coin! In fact, our discourse has been insane for years, but it has been very hard for people to see this.

Even today, those liberals are making that suggestion without quite noting how insane this whole discussion is.

Two points:

We have always said that we’d like a president who can find sacks of money out in the woods, obviating the need for taxation. Finally, our idea has begun to catch on.

Also:

After Obama mints this coin, will he plant that magical beanstalk? Conservatives have talked like children for years. Our side has never known how to go to the public and explain this fact.

They’ve talked like children for many years. At long last, our leaders have joined them.