The Two Sentences That Should Be Part of All Discussion of the Debt Ceiling (James Fallows)

[Mass]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/01/the-two-sentences-that-should-be-part-of-all-discussion-of-the-debt-ceiling/267115

1) Raising the debt ceiling does not authorize one single penny in additional public spending.

2) For Congress to "decide whether" to raise the debt ceiling, for programs it has already voted into law, makes exactly as much sense as it would for a family to "decide whether" to pay a credit-card bill for goods it has already bought.

[Still Sensible]

1. Precisely n/t

[mbperrin]

2. Said as well as I've heard.

Thank you.

[nyquil_man]

3. Try telling that to the Thought Enough Already Party.

[DhhD]

4. The same reasons that President Obama can use, to extend/raise the debt ceiling by Executive

Order, if necessary.

[spanone]

5. this is assuming we have a rational congress

which we don't.