A contrived crisis, more contrived compromises, and the ones who lose are us.

[MadHound]

There is going to be no victory in this debt ceiling "crisis" for we the people. The deals that have been put forth contain some of the most draconian cuts in a generation. Such cuts in spending will wreck the economy whichever deal is accepted. And the Super Congress that is being tossed around promises even further austerity coming in the form of SS/Medicare cuts, along with further spending cuts.

Tax revenues are barely part of the picture, and frankly I doubt that they will be any part of any deal. And worse, given that we're leaning towards a two step debt ceiling hike process, we'll have to do this all over again in a few months, in the middle of an election year.

At this point we are better off with no deal. Ride this game of chicken out to the eleventh hour and I'm willing to bet a lot that a clean debt ceiling bill would pass. If all else fails, have the president pull the 14th amendment trigger. Yes, we would have a Constitutional crisis, but better than an economic one.

If one of these deals that is floating around actually gets passed, lots of people are going to be claiming "victory". Sorry, but none of these deals is a victory, at least not for the majority of Americans. Every single one of these deals are a death blow against the middle class and against our economy. Under any one of these deals, we lose.

Frankly I'm urging everybody to write your reps and press for the clean debt ceiling bill. I also urge all of you to write the President about using the 14th amendment option. Otherwise we're going to be saddled with these draconian deals, and worse, we'll be getting more of the same in just a few months.

No deals.

[peacebird]

1. please post "Demand a clean debt ceiling bill & call the Pres to urge he use 14th amendment option".

as a new topic - to get more eyes on the meat of your post!

[HereSince1628]

2. Even a contrived crisis provides opportunities for brinksmen

Regarding the AUG 2nd deadline, I think that this (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/22/debt-ceiling-august-10_n_907480.html) has
moved the perception of when the 11th hour will be upon us

Whether true or not, I believe that some congress critters think they have time to continue their food fight.

[DFW]

3. Exactly!

Coupling the current budget discussion with raising the debt ceiling is just
a ploy to attempt to keep taxes low for those making more money than 98% of
the country could ever dream of making. They are the ones financing the
Republicans so fiercely screaming about eliminating taxes, and not even
all of them. Warren Buffett, super-billionaire, says he pays way too little
in the way of taxes. The Koch Brothers obviously disagree.