Now the deficit mountain

LITTLE ROCK — Congress avoided the cliff, but it did not get off the mountain. That is the problem.

The mountain is the budget deficit. The country needs to get down the mountain. Last summer, Congress could not agree on the path, so it loudly and publicly aimed toward a cliff in order to scare its members into agreement. Congress reached the cliff and agreed on a small descent only. This stopgap budget deal beats jumping off, but it was a gutless and dishonorable performance.

Congress did nothing to slow the budget’s biggest element: entitlement spending. The Republicans who raised this point are right. Slight changes can make a big difference. Another reform is to raise the retirement age, starting several decades out. It wasn’t done. Military spending needs to come down, starting with overseas commitments. Farm subsidies need to be reviewed. Neither was done.

Congress reached the cliff and declined to jump off. A dog would have had as much sense. Lawmakers are still on the mountain, and they need to agree on a way down.