I'll make this one short. I thought it was odd that the President of America asked for TV airtime to plead his case to raise taxes and somewhat villify the GOP folks... What did you think of the plea to the public? And the comments made by Obama and Boehner?
Another thing I thought was odd that Obama tried to imply that raising the debt ceiling has historically been no big deal. And that the GOP blocking it is somehow inappropriate...
My thought is that maybe if others had blocked it more often, we wouldn't be in this mess.
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It was one Senator Barack H. Obama who notably said, in a rare floor appearance, that raising the debt limit would be "irresponsible" and, I believe "foolish." Just goes to show how a liberal can "grow" in office with nary a peep from the MSM.
J. Ewing
From Laurie with a slight edit...
I responded to Pres. Obama's appeal. "F*** the GOP" is the message I sent to my congressman. Probably not persuasive, but it best reflects my thoughts on the matter.
So do you conservatives agree with your party leaders that we can achieve a balanced budget through cuts only. I imagine you would wipe out medicaid, and hit discretionary spending, SS, and medicare extra hard to protect defense, rather than do an across the board 35% cut.
I am looking forward to getting past the looming govt shutdowns (we also have the fall budget battle to look forward to) and into the 2012 campaign. I can't see Obama running on "hope" and "change" again and am curious as to what his theme will be.
As for not being in this mess, if W. hadn't been appointed pres, we might have stayed on track for paying down the debt (no tax cuts, one limited war, prescription drug benefit structured differently and paid for.) Notice the trend in spending under Reagan, Clinton and Bush (both of them.)
Bernstein
I would be happy going across the board with cuts... Then again I am up for some taxes too... There I go on that fence again.
G2A Taxes and Cuts
G2A Spending Priorities
The sad reality is that NO MATTER how much we give GOVERNMENT, THEY/WE would find a way to SPEND IT... So this DEBT CEILING is likely as good as any other.
Unless we stop giving them more... They will not prioritize or become more effective.
Why would they???? Isn't it easier just raising the ceiling than actually improving?
After reading this... Maybe McCain did deserve the vote I gave him awhile back... McCain Comments
By the way, I thought he was ok at the time except for his advanced age. Then I also had concerns regarding his running mate being a bit inexperienced and out there...
I think Republicans are determined to destroy the economy for political advantage.
--Hiram
Please elaborate, I am curious how you think the GOP thinks they will gain from this looming disaster.
I'm not sure what we have in the population at large, looking for some magic solution that lets the government continue spending money that it doesn't have and cannot possibly, EVER get through taxation. But the available categories are fools, dam fools, and Democrats, in that order. Any fool, and most dam fools, know that when you get in debt trouble the first thing you do is cut up the credit cards. THAT is the debate now over the debt ceiling. We don't have to pay it off, yet, we just have to stop adding to it at 10-14% per year! I say let us hit it, see where the pain is, and then up the debt ceiling just enough to cover the NECESSARY
things not covered by the constant revenue coming in. There is enough that we cannot POSSIBLY "default" on our debt obligations, and we can pay SS, Medicare, soldiers and veterans and lots of other priorities, just on the money coming in.
Remember, the last year of Bush 43 the deficit was 1-TENTH of what it was last year! If we had simply maintained that "necessary" and completely satisfactory level of spending, we wouldn't be anywhere close to the debt ceiling now. Where did all that additional spending GO?! Answer: Obama's boondoggles, and they ought to be stopped cold. Cut up the credit card.
J. Ewing
"Please elaborate, I am curious how you think the GOP thinks they will gain from this looming disaster."
The economy will fail, and Republicans will blame the president.
--Hiram
I agree with J. that we should go back to Bush 43 levels of spending, which were about 22% of GDP.
although I don't think anyone looks at my links, here is another that shows the causes of our current large deficits (hint it is not Obama's policies):
CBPP
about Hiram's comment, I think the GOP would benefit more from causing significant damage to the economy rather than outright destruction. I think they may be over reaching.
"I think the GOP would benefit more from causing significant damage to the economy rather than outright destruction. I think they may be over reaching."
It's such a fine line.
--Hiram
Laurie,
I always read your links, I just don't always agree with them...
Hiram,
I am thinking the GOP and Democratic politicians have a lot in common. I think they are more worried about their future than that of the country. Each is playing to the fear and greed of their base constituencies.
To the poor, unlucky and stupid, they say we will get you free money for no effort. Keep making bad decisions and we will protect you from the natural consequences.
To the rich, lucky and greedy, they say we will protect your wealth and ensure you can get filthy rich while your neighbors go hungry. Keep on enjoying the high life....
To all,
A side note: I was talking with a couple who's net worth is probably ~$10 million. I inferred to them that they were "RICH" by most people's standards. They of course did not think so since their definition of RICH is Gates, Buffet, etc
It confirmed the real definition of RICH. "Someone who has more than me..." Aren't us humans funny...
"I am thinking the GOP and Democratic politicians have a lot in common. I think they are more worried about their future than that of the country."
The media says that a lot, that both parties are the same, that there is fault on all sides, and enough blame to go around. If there is a bias in the mainstream media, those attitudes go along way in defining it. In terms of political tactics, I think the message masters push that view in order lower voter turnout, and in general create a cynical attitude toward government. The media likes it because it gives them a safe space in which to operate. It's been a very effective tactic.
"I inferred to them that they were "RICH" by most people's standards. They of course did not think so since their definition of RICH is Gates, Buffet, etc."
This is a fairly common phenomenon. Rich people don't think they are rich, partly because like the rest of us, they overspend, and partly because they compare themselves with people who are better rather than worse off.
--Hiram
The rich person who thinks he is poor notion is what I think of as the Henderson Syndrome. There was a flurry about this issue in the blogosphere last year:
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2010/09/todd-henderson-we-are-the-super-rich.html
--Hiram
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