The Debt Ceiling

I found this to be an interesting read-

 

Bank Bailout! GM! Chrysler! Insurance companies! Investment houses? Any of these ring a bell.

 

Sure, I remember Bush Jr doing those in late 2008. What's your point?

 

Ya' know, last time I heard, the Constitution provided for two legislative bodies. The House, to represent the people, and the Senate to represent the states. Many of the people who were elected in 2010 basically had a mandate from those who elected them to go deal with the economic mess that we, as a nation, are trying to deal with. It wasn't a Republican mess - it wasn't a Democrat mess - it was the result of years of playing politics - much of it pork barrel politics - that led to our current fiscal disaster. These people went back to Washington and did what the people sent them there to do. I realize some of you are having a difficult time with this but they did what they said they were going to do. In 2012, there will be many more of them sent to Washington to straighten up the mess. Hopefully by that time, someone who is actually a leader - no matter what party he or she represents, will be in the White House.

 

I love it the GOP had both houses, the WH and arguably the SCOTUS for the majority of 8 yrs and everything- the wasted surplus, the massive spending etc... was the fault of both parties. At least 45-50% of the country cheer lead as the Bush WH and the GOP controlled congress spent like a drunken sailors in a whorehouse. Every once and while I hear or read some conservative voice objection and he/she would quickly be labeled a traitor and we never heard from them again. Now it's come to the point where the bills are coming due and those same conservatives have no intention of paying that bill. Classic.

 

In all honesty, prior to the Tea B'ers appearance, I would have said the best thing for the nation would be a Dem POTUS and a GOP controlled congress. But with the Tea B'er on scene I think we're just screwed. My only hope is as the dollar falls the peso does too. That way the cost of the rice and beans I'll be eating will be within reach.

 

Good luck with that. Most of the people now screaming the loudest about being over taxed would swear to you Regan never raised taxes, of course he did. To many the idea of "Reagan" is somewhere near a Demigod. However those same folks usually have no clue regarding his record. His "trickle down" was a complete and utter fail. Yet we still have a select few powerful people selling it and a lot of people still buying it. Reagan was a lot of things but he wasn't stupid and I think he truly wanted what was best for the country. I seriously doubt he'd have supported going to war in two countries and not funding them at all. Not only not fund them leave the cost of them completely out of the budget. If he knew what was being done in his name he'd be rolling over in his grave.

 

Tax cuts stimulate the economy
And create jobs
It'll start to trickle down any day now
Any day now.

Obama is a sellout whose idea of compromise is less "I'll give some, you give some" than "Stop yelling and I'll do what you want;" what he should have done was invoked the 14th amendment and simply stated that the US debt is valid whether the right wing likes it or not. Democrats in Congress recognized that they couldn't beat the corporatist nutcases in the Tea Party and the GOP as a whole and voted for a small disaster to prevent a bigger disaster.

 

I agree Obama has no offense skills at all. He approaches everything like he dealing with rational adults. You'd think anyone who watched CSPAN for a hour would know the folks in office are anything but rational. He will likely be known as the "Great Capitulator."

I fear in 2012 we'll have the option of some completely bat shit crazy GOP wing nut and Obama. If this turns out to be true I'll vote Obama soley because I've had enough of bat shit crazy.

 

uh...liquor dealer? what are you talking about? what don't you understand? this might be indicative of a more general problem. but i'm willing to feign patience. so how about you fill me in? thanks.

 

"I grew so rich that I was sent by a pocked borough into Parliament. I always voted at my party's call, and I never thought of thinking for myself at all! I thought so little, they rewarded me by making me the ruler of the Queen's Navee!" - Sir Joseph, H.M.S. Pinafore, Gilbert & Sullivan.

I've always loved the way that comedy can so well interpret and cast a light on politics. The absurdity lends itself to parody, but it takes the keen observation of a funny person to turn the absurdity around and present it as it truly is to the comedian's audience.

This entire thing has been an amazing show of the absurdity of politics. The debt ceiling is a vote about what's already happened, about money that's already been spent by Congress. To hold the debt ceiling vote hostage for promises about future spending is like not threatening to not pay your due phone bill in order to prevent yourself from not using so many minutes next month. It's an absurdity. Congress has a million and one opportunities to cut fat and waste and to streamline government, but they don't take those opportunities, instead choosing to grandstand on something that has nothing to do with stopping us from spending and everything to do with our ability to continue borrowing.

 

What? You see a hole in someone's logic who started out saying-

Then when asked what he was talking about said -

Then after it was pointed out that those were all done under the Bush Admin it suddenly became-

You see a hole there? Do ya? Do tell.

 

I'm pretty sure that the tea party could be nullified entirely with some well placed hugs and some life coaching. Everyone I know who rocks the tea party ideology is middle aged, stuck in a job that lacks security or fails to provide them satisfaction or represents a squandering of their abilities. It is the party for members of the previously dominant social class who've been left out of all the prosperity that folks of their demographic used to take for granted.

They're aware of their lack of prosperity and it gets to them, because for fucks sake, it wasn't supposed to be this way. They're dissatisfied, but in a vague way. The tea party movement gives focus to that dissatisfaction:
it's the fault of the liberals and their social programs; "Why should anyone look out for the less fortunate," they wonder, "when nobody's looked out for me?"
it's the fault of profligate government spending: "Of course the government can't allocate money with the same wisdom and efficiency as a private citizen." they think to themselves, as they fill up the 31 gallon tank on their Chevy Suburban and drive 20 miles alone into work.
"it's those rotten socialists, ramming the government down our throats" they say, as they vote for constitutional amendments banning gay marriage and continue to support a national security state in the name of 3000 people who've been dead for nearly a decade.

The tea party isn't about anything but providing an outlet for good old fashioned anomie. Good economic times would steal all motivation from the tea party. Too bad they seem intent on embracing ideas which will likely only serve to postpone good economic times.

 

and that, odd bodkin, characterizes any number of other neo-fascist movements as well.

 

The ones that ran on economic policy and proceeded to cram morality bills down our throats?

 

Sure the Tea Party is attempting to keep their promises. The problem is what they promised was nonsense to begin with... Why vote for them in the first place?

The reality is that the US didn't spend enough on its stimulus packages. While it may sound counter intuitive, you need to spend your way out of the crisis. And yes... create new revenue by raising taxes on those who can afford it most.