My simple solution to the debt ceiling issue

[The Straight Story]

Raise it. You will have a full year to introduce new legislation to cut spending, increase taxes, etc and so on before you have to vote on it again.

Why cram it all over a few weeks? Spend the next 12+ months to analyze, propose, etc your ideals to reduce debt and such.

We came into this century with a projected surplus - that is way gone. Don't try to fix it all this week - increase the ceiling and then actually work on the issues.

Simple.

[Make7]

1. The Treasury Secretary sent every member of Congress a letter about the debt ceiling on 1/6/11.

If it has taken them this long to get nothing accomplished, what would giving them more time do?
 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010603244.html
 

[Jon Ace]

2. That's the problem.

Raising it is a "leave-the-mess-to-the-next-guy" plan.

[pnwmom]

3. We've had a full year to debate it already. In another year

we could once again be on the brink -- and with the election just a few months away. More time isn't what we need. More sane people is what we need.

[The Straight Story]

4. Point is - If the news, lawmakers, etc are all this caring now

Why wouldn't they be so for the next 12 months?

Maybe because we get distracted by shiny objects - and worse, our politicians won't follow through because they just don't care.

[pnwmom]

6. Because we're going to be in the heat of an election campaign.

That's not a good time to get anything sensible done.

[Timbuk3]

5. Problem is

...if they just raise it, the radically right wing GOP won't be able to hold a gun to the head of the American people over it.

"Give us your SS and Medicare savings or the old guy/granny/student/veteran gets it".

What needs to happen, but won't is Boehner needs to get more Democrats on board than Republicans, to shut the teabaggers down. It's better for him, it's better for all of us.