Debt Talks and Detail Demons

Much like America I’ve done a lot of growing in the past two years. I find the parallels between myself and America are seemingly unending. I am disillusioned beyond measure with the current climate in the fiasco that is the American political scene today. I guess I was naïve if not sincere and well meaning in many of my opinions that I once held and even wrote about with vigor. I no longer find very much in common with either party. I love the ideas espoused by the Republican right and the seeming big hearts on the left are pretty appealing as well. So what do you do when you find yourself almost disenfranchised from the whole process? Do you try to make yourself a voice of reason and find no refuge in either side of the spectrum? Do you withdraw completely from the process and quietly cast your vote for the lesser of two evils? Or do you become bitter and tell everyone who cares to listen (and many of those who do not) that politicians are politicians and neither side is going to change? I don’t have the answers to my own questions so I suppose the most prudent thing to do is to write and share my views and hope that I add in a positive way to the political discord that has permeated this great nation.

Simply put this debt crisis needs resolving. Both sides are sitting on reasonable points and both fight bitterly for the moral high ground. Unfortunately no matter how the dust settles after this brawl there is going be very little if any moral high ground left. I understand the need to stick to principles that got you elected and I believe that if a promise is made that promise must be kept. Many Republicans have made promises and signed documents that have guaranteed that they will not vote for a tax increases while in congress. As a general rule I am opposed to taxes. Don’t get me wrong we as Americans have a responsibility to support our country monetarily so we have a guarantee for our freedoms that we enjoy. Without tax revenue we have no military to protect our interests, we have no police force or fire department or school systems. These things keep the world that we know safe and our homes secure (as they possibly can be).

The debt ceiling must be raised. There is no question in my mind that this is the case. There are a fringe few that don’t hold that to be a fact but I’m not sure if it is political posturing or worse ignorance to the repercussions. I myself not being an economist can not make out a list of possible scenarios and outcomes of a possible default (I will look into doing that at a later time). What I can say is that like anything its ill advised to go cold turkey from any addiction. America is addicted to debt. From the lowest earning American to the wealthiest in our ranks. Our government is no different. When we have a grand idea to improve our country we go for it no matter what the cost.

Both parties are guilty of this Bush while being a seemingly good intentioned man (my opinion so lay off) was not what I would consider to be a very prudent president. Clinton is not my ideal president but kudos to the man for having a hand in lowering our debt at the time. But the entitlement programs that that same man expanded upon are seemingly biting us in the ass.

I think the overall problem is that we as Americans need to become more reliant on ourselves and less on the government. Our government needs to stop selling its teeth to buy food and needs to stop spreading state reliant thinking. The right needs to realize that education can not and should not be touched when it comes to cuts. Senior benefits that have been paid into for a lifetime such as social security can not be cut. By all means overhaul and improve these programs but when a person has paid into a fund there entire lives you have no right to try and take that away from them by any measure. As far as education if we degrade the level of learning in this country we will have no hope that future politicians will be able to deal with the problems that others are currently laying down in Washington today.

You’ll have to excuse my rambling I guess I needed a vent piece to start out my new found urge to write down my thoughts. Please keep reading and hopefully I will be able to keep writing, and of course please share your comments.