What do you think? Do you think the trend of all future events is going to be determined for better or worse?
It's like this is an entirely new thing. It's being made out like this has come out of no where and slapped us in the face. The debt has been an issue for a very long time. In all reality, we just have some people who were sent to Washington in the recent year who had a pledge to fix the problem. It's a great idea. I commend them for their efforts, but this is not how it should be.
"Get your ass in line," Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio, said Thursday to his Republican colleagues, speaking on the debt crisis and the debate to raise the debt ceiling. He's a fine one to talk, eh?
As it stands, we have two parties bashing each other and practically working against each other. There are two plans in the works.
Boehner's plan will cause a short term debt ceiling increase of around $900 billion ($900,000,000,000) and something like $915 billion in spending cuts/deficit reduction. Another increase in the debt ceiling will be instituted around election time 2012. Hmmm... Wait for it...
House Minority Leader Harry Reid's, D-Nev., plan would cut $2.2 trillion in spending/deficit reduction and give the go-ahead for a one-time debt ceiling increase that should get us through 2013. Again, read on, it's coming...
I know this is just a quick summary that's almost headline-like. Here is my two cents. I urge you, if your still reading, to form your own opinion. But here's how I see it - grab a bar of soap; my mouth is going to need to be washed out.
They are both idiots. I hesitate to say all 535 of them are idiots, but there's no way to be conclusive on that. If we had a responsible government, we would not all be sitting in our living rooms watching President Obama speak time and time again about the urgency and how we need to get out of this mess (something on this is coming up later in this post too. Wait for it..) Over the past decade or so, government spending has been way out of control. Now to the plans...
My thoughts on Boehner's plan are that its a bunch of politics. Think about it. He wants to have a short-term increase. Then consider what more to cut and raise it again around election time 2012. 1) This is only going to extend this bickering and crap longer. We will have to go through the whole ordeal again. Bad for America, bad for him. We are fed up. And, 2) extending it a year sounds like a little bit of political move. More debate around election time = more political turbulence = referendum on the president, because we always look to the head of state as being part of the blame (typically so, but not always). Of course, it will be a referendum on congressional elections as well. Looks like a win-lose situation. Good luck with that, Boehner.
Now for Reid: I really hate to say this (grab soap), but what if he has the better plan? The overall concept seems to be fine for what needs to be done. BUT... we can likely count on additional revenues where they don't need to come from and less push on entitlement cuts. So in that aspect, I can't think this is a good plan either. Besides, it sounds political as well: let's push it beyond the 2012 election so our butts and Mr. Obama's butt can be saved, then the debate can turn its ugly head and come back with a vengeance again.
Wonder what they all plan to cut? Way to be transparent. Remember those promises of transparency? Amnesia? We'd like to know.
Remember the Cut, Cap and Balance Act? Sure, it may not have been the greatest plan either, but that plan, which passed the House in a 234-190 vote, had a constitutional amendment: the Balanced Budget Amendment. It's a great idea! Forty-nine states have balanced budget amendments. Haven't heard of a failure yet.
While I was writing this, news came around that Boehner's revised bill that will go for a House vote eventually may have a the Balanced Budget Amendment approach to it and is gaining support from GOP members. ..just a news bit there.
Now: August 2. It's not doomsday. Refer back to the U.S. Debt Clock. Our country may be broke, but there's enough revenue to keep the government moving for a little while after August 2. So when President Obama says he can't guarantee the checks will go out (see video below) ...
Also, when the President addresses the nation (July 25), it should be used as a chance to bring us together, not divide. So, he probably shouldn't have dropped this line:
"The only reason this balanced approach isn’t on its way to becoming law right now is because a significant number of Republicans in Congress are insisting on a cuts-only approach – an approach that doesn’t ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all. And because nothing is asked of those at the top of the income scales, such an approach would close the deficit only with more severe cuts to programs we all care about – cuts that place a greater burden on working families." - President Barack Obama, July 25
To read the address in its entirety, click the hyperlink "President addresses the nation (July 25) above. I'm not saying the entire address was bad. It was good. I've never seen President Obama give a bad speech or address in his official capacity on national television. He can deliver a great speech. The beginning and ending of this address was good/satisfactory, in my opinion. Again... just my thoughts.
One final point... a downgrade of the national debt is lingering. It's inevitable. Some credit agencies have already done so. They aren't the big credit rating agencies that we care more about, like Moody's. But get ready, because it's coming. Probably solely based on this whole fiasco. It's ridiculous.
Bottom line: Cut the crap. Cut the "it's my way or no way"mentality, cut the campaigning and politics and do your job. Listen to the People, congress. We're your boss. We can and will fire you.
Sincerely,
An angry young conservative who is fed up with the lack of representation on both sides of the aisle.
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