Vicious Rants of an Angry Yellow Man

So one week into the shutdown and no sign of resolution.  Now the GOP want negotiation over spending cuts before raising the debt ceiling.  I am very tired of these tactics to put the nation onto brink of financial catastrophe just because a small minority believe that Obamacare and taxes are the most evil things in the country.  I can guarantee that if Obamacare continues without obstruction and our deficits continue at the current rate, the world will not end.  On the other hand, if we default on our debts, I will bet that we would have a world crisis right away.

Attaching demands to the budget and debt ceiling is like putting earmarks (pork) into bills--something that would not pass on its own merit.  If the GOP want to get rid of Obamacare, pass a bill to get rid of it.  If the GOP want to cut certain expenses to balance the budget, pass a bill to do so.  Do not try to attach these things to something else because you can't pass these things on their own merit.  It would be like the Democrats refusing to pass the budget unless guns are banned.  Would the GOP negotiate over that?

After the last debt ceiling crisis, we had the super committee to try to cut the deficit. If failed as expected.  So there is no chance that we can come up with something now in less than two weeks.  I think if we are serious about the deficit, we should put out a national referendum as to what things to cut and what taxes to raise, if any.  Each side will propose cuts and/or tax reform.  The people will vote on each proposal.  Maybe this will work or maybe it won't.  We may find that people don't want to cut anything and don't want to raise taxes.  But at least this is a true democracy where all people can have a voice.  Right now our so called representative democracy is not working as a small minority is holding the majority hostage.