GOP Does Not Understand What the Debt Ceiling Is About and Why It Must Be Raised

The Republicans just do not understand what raising the Debt Ceiling is about.  It is about the government having enough money to continue to pay its obligations.  It is not about increasing total federal spending.  The debt ceiling has to be raised so that government can continue to function.

The obligations that the government must meet do not mean the ability to pay off its debts to its creditors.  It also means more than to pay for its obligations for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and to the military.  It also means it has to pay salaries for all federal employees.  One former Republican Senator has said that a failure to raise the debt ceiling means a 41% cut back in what the government can operate.

What 41% of government do the Republicans want to stop paying for next week?  The FAA and put air travelers at risk?  The TSA and do the same thing?  How about closing our national parks in the middle of the summer travel season, which would also reduce revenue coming into the government?  How about stopping FDA drug testing?  Do we want Thalidomide Babies in the United States?  It was the FDA doing its job that prevented this.

Everybody wants to cut spending, however as long as it does not affect them.  It is ok with a corn farmer to cut subsidies to an oil company but not to him.  It is ok with big oil to keep their tax subsidies and to cut ethanol subsidies.  This is just another form of NIMBY.  Instead of NIMBY it is NOFMBL, (Not Out Of My Bottom Line).

Also the GOP’s call for a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution is also ridiculous.  Assuming one is passed what happens if there are another set of devastating tornados in Tuscaloosa, Alabama or Joplin, Missouri?  Or even worse another 9/11?  If there is a balanced budget amendment such disasters would require cutting from already allocated funds or needing super majorities to raise new funds to help the recovery.  Think that would be easy? Remember NOFMBL and how hard it was to pass the Zadroga Act.

Have people voted against an increase in the Debt Ceiling in the past who now want it raised?  Yes.  Have people voted for an increase in the Debt Ceiling in the past who now do not want it raised? Yes.  But did any of them ever take the country to the brink of default and shut down in the past? No.  All votes in past on the Debt Ceiling were approved with some debate and without a Filibuster in the Senate.  Those in the minority would make speeches about why they are not voting to increase the ceiling, but when push came to shove they allowed a vote and the ceiling to be increased.  Not push has come to shove and all there is pushing and shoving that may send the American economy over the brink and into default and shut down.