There is great disagreement in Washington over the meaning of last year’s midterm elections, but it’s almost certain that most Americans did not vote for the kind of paralysis that now surrounds the negotiations over the terms of raising the debt ceiling.
Americans voted for, or got, divided government because the public doesn’t fully trust either party with the reins of power. That means the only way out of this problem is through compromise, or what one administration official called “bipartisanship by necessity,” not by choice.
Up until now, enough lawmakers haven’t been ready to accept that in order for a deal to be struck. So the clock ticks.
“There is great disagreement in Washington over the meaning of last year’s midterm elections, but it’s almost certain that most Americans did not vote for the kind of paralysis that surrounds the negotiations over the terms of raising the debt ceiling.
Americans voted for, or got, divided government because the public doesn’t fully trust either party with the reins of power. That means the only way out of this problem is through compromise, or what one administration official called “bipartisanship by necessity,†not by choice”
This is the problem I have we did not vote for compromise but for a specific action without compromise: that cut the free spending ways of the especially of the Obama administration and the. The divided governemnt is we do not have the Senate or the White House. Democratic Party. I say the the default happen.
Oh, I beleive the messages of the mid-term elections were quite clear: reduce the size of government, stop the socialist march, return to Constitutional based government, and get the deficit and debt under control.
The so-called “grid lock” we see in Washington is the collision of the socialist and big-government types on one hand, with the elected newbies who still believe that the people sent them to Washington to the things outlined above.
Compromise? Why compromise with what you do not believe in and in fact what you beleive is bad for the long term health of the nation? You do not compromise with those seeking to take us deeper into the abyss, you defeat them.
It also needs to be said that no compromise has been offered. Just cynical manipulation and the usual game playing. Every thing the Democrats have offered have only been variations on raising taxes now in return for reductions in the rate of spending increase spread out over 10-12 years which will never be enacted by the Congress or accepted by the President sitting at that time.
The only way to get any real spending cut now is to refuse to raise the debt ceiling and force the government to live within its available current income.
Virtually everyone in Government of either party with more than a couple of synapses snapping understands and agrees that the debt ceiling, regrettably, has to be raised. The paralysis comes from efforts to make that reality hostage in order to attain other policy goals. Up to a point, it’s worth a try, but that point is long gone. National and world economic and market conditions are imperiled by running it up to the edge this way. At this point they should just raise the debt ceiling for the remainder of this session of Congress. It truly is incompetent governance that gratuitously puts all the citizens at great risk.
4, the debt ceiling is always raised. If the costs of not raising it are so bad and it is always raised, then why have it at all? Why not borrow and spend without limit? Why not unloose the printing presses and shower everyone with billions of dollars? Why bother to talk about fiscal responsibility and limits when they are never put into practice?
I would argue both parties have failed/are failing the citizens they represent. To accept “the mandate” of the mid-term elections means one must accept “the mandate” of 2008 – unless we get to selectively decide which landslides were mandates and which were anomalies based on our pre-existing political and ideological persuasions. To not raise the debt ceiling is foolishness – to refuse to drastically reduce our spending [i]NOW[/i] is foolishness – to assume it can all be done with cuts and without taxes is foolishness.
And, for what it is worth, NoVA Scout, statements like “everyone … with more than a couple of synapses snapping” is emblematic of the way people of either ideological persuasion who can’t make a compelling argument try to shame everyone else into going along with their conclusions. It’s a schoolyard bullying tactic and you are better than that. Just sayin’.
Gee, let’s go back to the 2006, 2004, or better yet let’s just pick the 1984 mandate and foreswear all other mandates. Get the hint about what mandates mean?
Br. M hit the nail on the head. We always raise the debt limit. Let’s have a mandate to get rid of it…….it’s only sophistry and it “puts the people at risk”. Do away with it, spend like there is no tomorrow and then no one will be at risk,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ya think?
So now Liberals, you have the mandate. Spend, spend, spend……what is to stop you?