The next global crash

[Donnachaidh]

http://thehill.com/opinion/columnists/brent-budowsky/157767-the-next-global-crash

There is a real possibility that negotiations to extend the debt ceiling will fail, which would lead to the United States defaulting on its debt and crashing the American and world economies.

The issue is not whether the cable news broadcasts the clock counting the minutes until it strikes doom. The issue is whether the United States of America will stop acting like a budgetary banana republic, whether our politicians will stop acting like King Louis and Marie Antoinette, oblivious to the hardships of the people of the nation, and whether our leaders are intellectually and politically capable of acting to promote jobs in the short term while assuring the fiscal integrity and stability of the nation.

Let me offer the dramatic suggestion that the president and Congress agree on an entirely clean four- to six-month extension of the debt ceiling. That they publicly begin a truly national dialogue on national television to address the deficit and jobs crises. And that leaders in both houses publicly commit to schedule votes regarding the deficit and jobs crises with unanimous consent to guarantee votes, with open rules that allow amendments, at least a month before the next debt-ceiling increase expires.

I am proposing that we interrupt the gaseous emissions of partisan spin, political punditry and media fluff about the latest polls, Donald Trump's campaign tactics, Charlie Sheen's police escorts, royal weddings, Lindsey Lohan's court appearances and where the president was born to begin a serious national discussion at a perilous moment when one great crash is receding but another is in danger of happening.

More at the link --

[Yo_Mama]

1. It would be nice if they even passed a budget

We haven't had one for years.

My guess is that this fact alone makes for inefficient uses of the funding the agencies do have.

I think your suggestion is very good. It might be best to start a new forum - call it the "Serious" forum. That way people who want to could discuss on that forum, and every week someone could post an abstract of discussions maybe to this one.

I think you are right that the political grandstanding is mostly intended to avoid serious examination of the issues.

[DCBob]

2. never happen..

as soon as there is a perceptible negative effect on the financial markets wealthy Republican donor/lobbyists/corporate types will be pounding the GOP to make a deal.

[Overseas]

3. K&R!