"The statutory debt ceiling and the threat of default have become political bargaining chips in the debate over fiscal policy."
meaning that the debt should have never been used as a bargaining tool. Thats why they lowered it. it should have been raised and not used as a way to take from the poor. This was warned by democrates and progressives. However republicans can't see that what they have done is suicide for americans and they have succeeded.
"The political brinkmanship of recent months highlights what we see as America's governance and policymaking becoming less stable, less effective and less predictable than what we previously believed," said S&P, one of three leading credit rating agencies."
Reread the article. It all points to republicans holding this country hostage.
