Who says liberals and conservatives can’t find common ground?
The two most conservative members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation Rep. Chip Cravaack, R-Minn., and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and the two most liberal members, Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., and Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., all voted no on the crucial House bill that prevented the U.S. from entering into default.
There’s probably never been an odder group of bedfellows than that Minnesota foursome. Most days it would be doubtful they could reach consensus on whether the sun will rise in the east tomorrow.
The measure was approved in the Senate on Tuesday and signed by President Barack Obama just hours before a deadline that would have ceased the government’s authority to borrow money.
I’ll give the four debt bill opponents the benefit of the doubt — that they were voting their conscience. However, there’s no question they were influenced by their most strident supporters who either thought the bill was an insufficient budget-trimming measure for a bloated federal government or a sell-out to extremists who were holding the U.S. economy hostage for political ends.
The “no vote” foursome can go back to their supporters and say they fought to the bitter end for their principles and it passed over their objections. And, as an added bonus, they won’t suffer the wrath of Americans for plunging the U.S. economy further into the tank. They won’t have to take that hit because House leaders and the White House made sure there were sufficient votes to raise the debt ceiling at the last minute, just as it had been raised time and time again under Republican and Democratic presidents.
Must we go through such perilous political posturing and gyrations before the voices of the adults in the room are heard and our government performs basic functions such as paying its debts?
Granted, this is no time for business as usual. The federal government has to take action to reduce its debt and meet obligations to both its creditors and its own citizens. But as in every major decision, whether it’s business, parenting or politics, there’s a time when we expect decision-makers to do what’s best for everyone involved and not just their own interests.
The two Republicans and two Democrats who voted no on lifting the debt ceiling failed that test.
MIKE O’ROURKE, associate editor, may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
Comments (42)
Add commentlets keep spending
since we dont have any money anyway, lets just keep downgrading our dollar, putting out children into debt more and maybe the Chinese, Russians, Brazilians, Canadians and whoever else holds our debt will be nice when they want their cash.
It is time to go back to the time where you had to work for your money and not expect it since you do not move out of the ghetto or the reservation.
It is time to force people into making a choice and not live with the status quo, you know, having more babies to get more food stamps and cash.
It is time to really make a change, and not only the dems, but the pubbies too.
If you think default woulda been bad, just wait til we get the credit downgrade because they could not drop our spending $4 trillion. This is going to put us into another depression, maybe even worse than the 30's. Whats our total debt going to be in 10 years? Oh thats right, on course to be almost double of what it currently is. Is this really sane?
You can say I am being silly all you want, but when reality slaps all you entitlement lovers in the face, you will say that crazy guy was right.
Probably
not as many as you. Some people don't run up bills they can't pay.
That wasn't meant for you
idwd. The super inflation that Obama/Carter is unleashing will be disasterous to this nation and the entitlement people you referred to don't even care, because they don't know what it is like to pay their own way.
justtired
"...because they don't know what it is like to pay their own way."
Are you talking about the billionaires who expect us to build them sports stadiums while we cut medical assistance to the needy? Estimated welfare payment $300,000,000 (that's 300 MILLION) for a single stadium that will boost the sale price of the team only about $50 million.
Or the billionaires who pay off corrupt politicians for special favors that cripple the Free Market like happened with Medicare Part D that bans the Free Market from lowering drug prices? Estimated welfare payment $136,000,000,000 (that's 136 BILLION)
Shouldn't they pay their own way too?
arrogant economists
The fiscal irresponsibility of our week-kneed politicians and the fiscally irresponsibility and condemnable economists who seem to promote the idea of increased debt and justification of ponzi scheme entitlement programs with NO SUSTAINABiliITY is beyond my rational thinking capabilities
DEBT
What a relief the debt limit has been increased,now the first lady can be assured there will be enough money for 1500 calorie lunches,french fries,deep fried pork fat and exotic vacations.
It'll take time
NO matter which side of this issue is yours, you need to know this; it took us decades to get us into the economic mess we're in, and it will take a good deal of time and acts of congress to get us out .... to think we'd fix it all in one big swooping bill is just bad politics, plain and simple. Now is the time for all citizens to let their legislators know what they want -- the 12 member committee needs to hear from so many of us that the lobby power will be insignificant....
chuck
Must make you feel glad you can be anonymous when you slam Michele Obama. Such a brave guy, you are. Not!
double dip recession ahead, market already tanking
While everyone agrees we need to get our countries debt down, this will stab the already shaky recovery in the heart.
Dark days are ahead for America.
And zachnos - you are right, this is not just suddenly Obama's problem. Maybe if GWB had not squandered the surplus WJC left him and went into 2 unfunded wars??? along with tax cuts.
No economist in the world would think that was sustainable.
The destruction of the economy seems deliberate
It really seems like the insurgents are deliberately destroying our economy with unfunded wars and eliminating revenue.
When they succeed they will go after Social Security and Medicare. Just wait.
It's one thing to cut waste. Most people are for that regardless of their political leaning.
It's entirely another thing to throw grandma under the bus so that more money can be shoveled into the overseas bank accounts of the wealthy.
Dark Days
Thanks for the support, minnesnowda .... but I guess I hold out that there are things that can be done to quell any severe storm... we'll have bad weather, but I don't think it will be dark, as long as we are good stewards of what we can control.
And you're also right, minnesnowda, that GWB took a surplus and screwed it right into the ground ... there's this, too .... no one every expected Sir Bill of Clinton to end up with a surplus. No one expected forecast the Reagan 'trickle down' theories...
No one predicted the good times or the bad times.... at least not all that accurately - and people still can't predict so accurately, so I just am not ready to see dark days.
We must keep positive -- and we must keep in touch with our legislators so they know we're watching.
America has 403 billionaires
according to Forbes magazine with a combined wealth of 1.3 trillion dollars. If we took all their wealth in taxes it would pay for about 4 months operating costs for the US government. Something for the "tax the rich" crowd to think about. The quickest way to get the US back on track is a combination of government budget reductions and huge tax incentive programs to make it possible for companies to do business (and keep business) here in the US. We are still the largest economy in the world (in fact China is just 1/3rd of ours) so we still have a tremendous attraction for bringing in new business. The US has the largest agricultural production industry of any country and we still are the largest manufacturing country in the world so it would make sense to keep us "business friendly" instead of doing our best to drive companies out.
Mike O'Biden
"extremists who were holding the U.S. economy hostage for political ends." Settle down and try a little decaf, Mike. There were no hostages and no terrorists .. You are starting to sound like Joe O'Biden and the New York and L A Times.
Politics is political. This
Politics is political. This deal was going to go to the so-called deadline no matter the players- get over it.
lifelongresident
I hope you saw the spot on the news of the candidates and where they purchased their campaign t-shirts etc. Most were manufactured overseas. (except for a Wisconsin company, which I was glad to see) We, the consumers, have to use what little power we have to buy American. There have been enough subsidies to companies who go overseas and hire. We need to try manufacturing in the USA again.
How about the Dispatch doing a survey like that sometime? Go to stores and highlight American made products.
Made in America
I saw the t shirt 'issue' on the news. Lots of hypocrites out there.
I saw a statistic the other day that said if Americans insisted on buying American made goods we could tip the economy up again.
That t shirt factory said they could employ 500 more people if the politicians followed their rhetoric of Buy American.
Increasing manufacturing in the US
is the key to increasing the economic fix to our financial problems right now, without increasing taxes on anyone. Just run through your head all the products that you buy, that are made in other countries, and think of what would happen if those dollars were being kept in the US. Maybe the politicians don't listen to the American people but I guarantee that business listens to them. If there was a concerted effort in this country to try and "Buy American" I think that business would take note.
I agree 110% with you on that Lifelong
and sometimes those t shirts are a buck more, but at least they're not made in Honduras or El Salvador AND better quality!
A buck more?
That's part of "buying American", yes it is true that you might have to spend a little more. Personally, I look at it this way, would I rather spend more for an American product or would I like to be taxed more to pay unemployment or welfare? I, for one, would rather pay more for the American product!
millionaires and billionaires
Many are scheduled to be at President Obama's birthday party/fundraiser tonight. It is a fancy affair in an elegant ballroom in Chicago. I wonder if they can take up a collection
or pledge to pay more taxes. They can just not take any
deductions, don't deduct foreign taxes, don't use pre-tax money for 401K's. etc. They can take earnings in wages so
they will get taxed at a higher rate. Yes, I say start with
these wealthy people attending his fundraiser tonight and see how much he gets in pledges to pay more in taxes.
In fact, our President can set an example and redo his taxes
and not take all these deductions as he did.
Just an idea for the "lets go after the rich people" who
don't get it that they (including our President) have ways to
reduce or not pay (General Electric) .
Get rid of all deductions including earned income credit and
start a flat tax.
I wonder if any of the
I wonder if any of the Democratic Congressmen and Senators will be traveling to the party using the new "private jets" they bought themselves with our tax dollars a couple years ago?
I wonder if any of the
I wonder if any of the Democratic Congressmen and Senators will be traveling to the party using the new "private jets" they bought themselves with our tax dollars a couple years ago?
snowda
I always find it humurous that people of you ilk go on and on about the "2 unfunded wars" and yet you never mention 'bama's private war with Lybia. How's thta going for you? How much have we spent?
It's Libya, btw
Well, for sure we haven't seen 5,000 or more Americans die there, have we?
So how do you feel about that Afghanistan War still going on and draining our country? Easy to start those things, difficult to quit. But the starter is in Dallas enjoying his pension.
We should have learned that in Vietnam.
Bring the troops home, all of them.
Buying American goods would
Buying American goods would help a lot and the lack of it has helped bring down our economy BUT.....
so has squeezing American workers and shoveling that money upward and in many cases overseas into jobs created in China and India. When American workers see the buying power of their paychecks shrink they are more likely to think short term and buy the cheaper foreign goods.
The dollars in a weekly paycheck get recycled back into the economy much faster than dollars shifted to stock holders and millionaire CEOs. That has ALSO helped bring this economy down.
wrong mike
the true grownups voted no for the phoney "cut" in 10 years while oohbama adds 7 to 8 trillion MORE to the debt which will be 21 trillion in 6 years-ENOUGH ALREADY! cut every department 10 % for 3 years and find out which we really need! dept of education 77 to 110 billion a year-cut the whole wasted dept!
the gap between the rich and the rest of us
The richest 5% of Americans hold more than 63% of the nation’s wealth.
And the bottom 80% hold 12.8%
There are some Americans who will think that’s fair.
Imagine if 100 hungry people are standing in line to eat a pizza that has 100 slices.
Now imagine if the first guy in line took 90 slices.
Imagine if more than a few people behind him tapped him on the shoulder and simply asked, “Hey buddy, why so greedy? We understand you waited long and worked hard to get the first place in line so you deserve to eat your fill. But there are 99 other people in line…can you at least put one or two slices back to give an opportunity for one or two more hungry people to eat?
And imagine if the first guy responded, “That’s socialism!”
FAA Funding Bill shelved?
If Brainerd and other rural areas lose their airports due to lack of subsidies, thank your GOP congressmen, who passed a bill cutting them and then went on vacation. No more compromising for them. Who else gets 6 weeks off in the middle of a crisis that they created? Somewhere between 5 to 75 thousand may be laid off. Guess we will know as time goes by.
"Worst Congress Ever" strikes again.
Obama
engineered this "crisis" just like Dayton did Minnesota's. The liberal re- celibration of 1917 Russia may be just a bit too much for the rest of the really sane people in this nation. But that's OK. 80% of you posters can keep drooling over the rest of us poster's wallets and property. Bet you can't take it!
LOL
Droolers!