Keller @ Large: Debt Deal Doesn't Solve Problems

BOSTON (CBS) - Will wonders never cease?

It appears that the United States of America will not have to go hat in hand to its many creditors to say that it can't pay its bills because the dog ate the money.

With just hours to go last night before the doomsday countdown on your TV screen expired, the House voted to approve the debt-ceiling deal worked out between the White House and congressional leaders.

The Senate is set to sign off on it later today, which makes you wonder about that hard and fast deadline, but why quibble?

The deed is done, and our fiscal problems are solved, right?

Actually, no, wrong.

Nothing about our chronic problems has been solved, not even in the slightest.

Listen to Jon's commentary

We're promised that there will be a trillion dollars worth of spending cuts "now," which is Beltway-speak for "maybe later."

In the meantime, the debt problem and the deficit problem are conveniently kicked down the road until after next year's election, allowing Congress and the White House to do what they do best until then -- bicker, posture, and get nothing done.

So brace yourself for 2013, when, under this deal, a special commission of six Democrats and six Republicans will make all the tough decisions the rest of their peers are incapable of making - deep cuts in military spending, profound reform of entitlement programs, and tax hikes.

And Congress will have to give the whole package an up or down vote.

Problem solved, right?

Wrong.

Last night, for instance, the president's spokesman said he fully expects that commission to endorse tax hikes.

But House Speaker Boehner told CBS News he can't imagine House Republicans voting for any such tax increases.

In other words, we can fully expect to be right back in gridlock central at this time two years from now.

So if you hear anyone of either party on the news today expressing pride over their work here, try not to laugh.

Or cry.

It's hard to decide which emotion is more called for.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.