The irony, however, is that the rancor, self-aggrandizement, and cowardice that dominates so thoroughly in Congress means that the dreaded sequester is almost sure to take place on March 1. While both parties in both the House and the Senate have prepared bills to divert it, each side has — very consciously — written legislation that they know the other side will enthusiastically reject: The Democrats want tax increases to pay off the sequester; the Republicans want to decimate the federal work force. More intended for fund-raising and election-maneuvering, the bills were not just dead on arrival; they were dead in procreation.

Thus, we have a freakishly large budget being characterized by the Pentagon’s military and civilian leadership as so small that they must literally destroy the armed forces’ ability to fight. We have a Congress of Republicans and Democrats who declare themselves near universally dedicated to fixing the problem — with more money — while at the same time they work feverishly to make sure nothing happens.