Today, The Wall Street Journal featured an article titled “Tax-Cut Bill Survives Senate Hurdle.” In it, several U.S. senators are quoted, including the Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY):

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) said the extension of tax cuts is a step to “turn off the spigot” on government revenues that lead to more federal spending.

“Taxes are going to stay right where they are for the next two years. And until we did that, Democrats in Washington were never going to be serious about cutting spending or debt,” said Mr. McConnell.

This is akin to claiming that it’s actually healthy to dehydrate your child, since by cutting off his water supply, he won’t need to pee as often on your next family vacation. Never mind the fact that his vital signs are waning, or that his dehydration is only prolonging the amount of time that will later be required to nurse him back to health, or that his lack of water renders him unable to perform other vital tasks such as choosing music for the stereo or asking, “Are we there yet?” No, just keep that water away and give it to his older brother, who already has a Nalgene full of the stuff but doesn’t feel he has enough.

Incidentally, this analogy started a little wobbly and just got more disjointed as it went. Perhaps I should stick to football and Friedman.