Reality TV: Evasion is futile

The ongoing coverage of the congressional supercommitee tasked with cutting the federal deficit fascinates me.  (How can it not?  If I had time right now I would commit hours to an MS paint drawing of the congressmen/woman decked out in capes.)

Seriously, though - these twelve individuals will have a huge impact on the future health (fiscally, politically, etc) of our government, and this comes with few strings attached to implementation of the changes they agree upon.  It just seems like a hugely unique opportunity to break away from the deadlock and partisan scuffle that plagues American politics. (Read here for a more eloquent articulation of this.)

And yet, the more recent stories covering the supercommittee give me a feeling akin to viewing a primetime reality show.  Worse off is that it seems more and more likely that the outcomes of the supercommittee are moving towards paralleling the dismal and discouraging outcomes and feelings that pour over you after you realize that you've wasted an hour of your life watching these mind-numbing TV shows.

Case and point on reality-show analogy is this article and flowchart (flowchart!) in today's NPR coverage of the progress of the committee.

"B-b-but!  Those women!  Their dresses are sooo shiny!!  Look at their teeth!  And! All those numbers!  And who knows what's in those suitcases?!  The game is worth it..."

Really, supercommitteans?!


Really?.