By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Rath on 24 July 2011
Edit Thread
HappySqurriel said:
richardhutnik said:
HappySqurriel said:
Rath said:
What you really need is to strip one of the existing houses of most of it's powers - in most other countries it's the upper house (the Senate in your case) that's much weaker. That way you can't end up with such a deadlock between the two.

Deadlock is a feature not a bug ...

The government of the United States was designed with several checks and balances that tend  to result in deadlock when a party tries to do something without support.  It is only a really big problem now because politicians are so worried about how their statements or actions will be portrayed in a 24 hour news cycle.

When you have a major fractioning when nothing can be supported to a sufficient degree, then end result is that the check and balance system stops working.  What will happen when the money runs out is exactly what the Tea Party folk want... except of course when there is no one guarding the borders any longer, or other things they would like are stopped.  Sometimes a feature can kill you, if out of balance.

If you're that worried, and you think any solution is better than letting the debt ceiling remain where it is, write a letter to the president and your member of the senate/house and tell them to follow the Republican plan (cut cap and balance) that is supported by 66% of voters. If you believe that Cut Cap and Balance is worse than leaving the debt ceiling where it is let the checks and balances do their job and prevent that legislation from passing. Either way, the checks and balances are in place to support you ...

Which poll gives you that information? Here's a poll that gives a very different answer - only 28% of Americans support only spending cuts while 66% support a combination of spending cuts and tax increases.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/07/18/politics/main20080496.shtml

 

The cut, cap and balance plan is one from the extreme economic right, not from moderates, and it's proposed constitutional 'balanced budget' amendment is insanity.

 

@Viper1. While you're correct in saying that the government will pay interest on its debts first (as it is constitutionally oblidged to do) you're incorrect in saying that it will have to add new programs to go over its debt limit. Its costs for existing programs are above its revenues - as such things like social security might not be able to be paid until the debt ceiling is raised.