Well, not really –at least not by President Obama.  But, I have assumed the role on my own because I want to and because I think I can help on this very vexing problem.  Washington can catch-up.  So here goes:

David Modell: “Meeting come to order.  I am the only member of the Modell Debt Panel so this should be an easy meeting assuming my other personalities are not too disruptive.

Today’s agenda topic: America’s debt – a good topic for the Debt Panel, don’t ya think?  Ok, let’s start with revenues (income).  How much does America take from its citizens through all forms?  Let’s just say that amount is two trillion dollars ($2,000,000,000,000…) a year, give or take a few hundred BILLION (!).  OK then, how much is OUR government planning to spend this year?  Almost four trillion dollars ($4,000,000,000,000…).  That means our government is going to spend almost twice what it collects in income, leaving a potential deficit of two trillion dollars ($2,000,000,000,000)!!!!  Huh?  Well, that’s stupid; sounds like a bad plan in ANY year and sounds like our government ought not to do it.

There you have it. Case closed.  The work of this commission is done.  The conclusion is that too much debt is stupid. Thank-you ladies and gentlemen.  Now that I have satisfactorily finished this commission’s work, I’ll do what everyone in DC does, go and get a multi-zillion dollar a year lobbying job.”

OK, OK, OK, I’m being a smarty-pants I admit.  But seriously folks, what in heaven’s name do we need a Debt Panel for?  As we are all aware, I really like President Obama, but, Lordy!  Just ask the family struggling on $80k combined a year (if they are very lucky) about whether spending twice what they earn is wise.  We all know the answer – ALL OF US KNOW THE ANSWER!  This is an IQ test – don’t fail!  So, why do the folks in Washington, DC not know the answer to this question and subsequently fail the IQ test?

The reason is: Washington works for itself.  Period.  Yet another poll came out recently pegging the Congressional Disapproval Rating (CDR) at 85% - meaning only 15% of those polled think this crack group is getting it done well on behalf of their employer.  Astonishing that the “15% Solution” just does not and seemingly cannot grasp the simple precepts that most Americans follow every single day of their lives.  How is it that folks who may have a 100% APPROVAL rating at work are losing their jobs to satisfy our “friends” on Wall Street, yet this group in Washington, DC keeps their jobs even though they satisfy their employer only 1 and a half times out of ten opportunities to please.  Am I missing something here?

So, my dear Mr. President, what is the story with this foolish Debt Panel when we all already know the answer?  Tell ya what: just ask your lovely wife Michelle if you can get that mid-life crisis Porsche Boxter before y’all get the new refrigerator you need or before your kids get their school clothes.  Like the rest of us mid-lifers, you know the answer but just don’t want to hear it.  Well, please listen to your in-house debt panel and then go about the business of putting the business of our government on sound financial footing without all these foolish Washington gyrations.