After watching democrats literally surrender their beliefs they stand on to reach a comprimise, and the GOP still un-willing to reach an agreement, I am beginning to think an agreement was never intended upon from the beginning from the GOP. Thoughts?
I think Obama and the media have done a really good job of convincing the libs that republicans haven't compromised. They didn't touch Medicaid in most of their plans, they agreed to increased revenues through taxes and revising loopholes, the house even voted to end some subsidies earlier in the summer, but the senate refused to vote on it (or voted it down, can't remember). Practically, any spending plan we create must decrease spending significantly.
We can increase revenue all day, but right now we're borrowing almost half of what we spend, and raising taxes won't fix that by themselves.
The dems hadn't drafted a single plan until Harry Reid presented something to Obama (and rumor has it, Obama said no to it because it didn't include tax increases). The plan Obama and Boehner were working on Friday? That plan was given the big ol' ax by Harry Reid, which is why Obama added the extra tax revenue and why Boehner walked away. Now they're proposing their own plan with no tax increases? Weird, isn't it?
Now, if we want to discuss holding the country hostage...I agree that the republicans are using the debt ceiling as leverage and, in that sense, people who call them out are correct. But let's be honest here...would we be having a discussion about spending cuts and fixing our overspending/debt problems if somebody hadn't taken advantage of the debt ceiling needs?? And if the democrats had been the ones who stepped up and used the debt ceiling in such a manner would we be having a discussion about how evil they are for putting the country in this situation? Or would you be screaming at the republicans for sitting around and refusing to put forth any plans of their own?
I fully realize neither party gives half a crap about the rest of the country, and I know that the intentions of both parties in this debate are less than pure. But curbing our borrowing rate by decreasing spending is a
good thing and I'll cheer for every member of the house and senate as well as the President when they present a deal that makes legitimate cuts. I really don't care which party gets the credit for this, because it's good for the country either way.