As America bumbles toward default, the people charged with solving the problem act like spoiled children in a sandbox.

Appearing genuinely stunned when one side offers the other a toy in compromise, then scream they don't want that toy.

Before we come to the political fork in the road that fuels this infantile tirade and stifles serious debate I must make clear: This is not about either party, it's about how arguments are framed and play out in today's America.

The looming default crisis serves as the problem du jour, but this discussion is easily applied to almost all recent (and soon to be) serious crises America has faced.

First, America's default problem is being fought in the political arena for political gain. Warring political factions looking to get re-elected or derail an opponents re-election.

Lost in the maelstrom of malarkey is real debate and civil discourse over the problem at hand. They are indeed politicians, but this should not be about which political side wins. It should be about what's best for America.

The real solution may be painful, but it most certainly shouldn't be tragic comedy. With the laughs coming at the expense of the majority of Americans.

Forgotten in this scenario are the people of the United States, for which the elected have sworn to represent. Both sides have offered compromises, both sides have actually turned down compromises they said they'd accept.

Where do they hide the clown cars when they pan back and show the Capital?

These actions lead one to believe their motives are strictly political. The end result they truly want?  A stalemate.

A stalemate gives both sides the ability to blame the other in the next arena, where serious problems should not be decided (unless you simply want to amplify the polemic political rhetoric):

The Media -

- (specifically TV for this article), currently plays the role of rabble-rouser. Ready to amp-up any story to grab ratings.

Facts can be ignored, misrepresented, assuaged and massaged to the point patently false statements such as: "We all know the deficit caused the financial crisis" (when repeated over and over and louder and louder) become fact.

Both the politicos and the media show signs of stress due to conflict of interest. Each entity needs to be artful at convincing the people they have their best interests at heart to garner votes/ratings.

When, in truth, their actions and deeds belie those words and beg the question: Who are you people representing?

Here we enter the theater of the absurd, the politicos flinging sound bites for their constituents, while the media takes the political three-ring circus on a 24/7 tour of America.

This allows Americans to "get involved". To the extent we can be involved when misinformed and mislead by propaganda expressly designed to keep us drowning in minutiae. Arguing amongst ourselves over meaningless sound bites spoken by what would've been a court jester in times past.

We have stigmatized the word "elite". Elitism has its faults, Americans shed blood to rid themselves of a monarchy.

However, being an elite athlete is desired. Sadly, being elite in intellect or an elite expert in your field somehow has developed a negative connotation.

If I desire America to be an elite nation. Will this desire be seen in a positive light or as a condemnation?

We live in a world of spin. Issues affecting the present and the future are treated as mere toys. Yet, with great faux verbal gravitas.

The actions of our elected officials and the media mock us.

Obviously, we the people, need no help making a mockery of ourselves.