Mistletoe and Spanish moss are parasites. 

Actually, Spanish moss is an epiphyte which absorbs nutrients (especially calcium and especially radioactive strontium) and water from the air and rainfall. Although it rarely kills the trees it lowers their growth rate by reducing the amount of sunlight available to the trees leaves.  It sometimes increases wind resistance, which is bad news for the tree in bad storms.  Spanish moss does not survive on the ground.

Although it can photosynthesize, mistletoe primarily lives off the nutrients of the host tree.  Rarely does it kill the tree… but it has been known to happen.  If the tree dies – the mistletoe dies.

Have you ever had a dog that got heartworm?  I knew nothing about that and I had an English pointer contract the parasite.  I began to notice the dog slowing down.  I got her to the vet just in time.  The cure involves poisoning the dog (and heartworms).  Just before the dog dies… you can tell because it stops eating… you administer the antidote.  This goes on in excruciating cycles until the heartworms are dead and dissolved in the dog’s bloodstream.

* * * * * *

To the original topic:

Our nation has handled good infestations of fiscal mistletoe and even the Spanish moss of unscheduled wars. 

But, our problem now is that we have fiscal heartworms.  FOR SURE, we need to rustle up the courage to take the cure.  We don’t have long.  And, it will nearly kill us.

Drink the lovely painful poison of the cure now – or serve the Kool Aid to our children and grandchildren.