Re: 2nd Term Part 5: Big Brotha
If we default, the debt ceiling will certainly constitute a crisis under any definition of the term.
Giant meteor hurtling towards earth = real problem
antibiotic resistant deadly flu spreading rapidly throughout the country = real problem
level of national debt = real problem
debt ceiling issue = not a real problem
Here is how I know. I have a real simple filtering system that I use to figure out whether one of these "crisis" is a real problem, or just something someone has ginned up for political purposes.
If the "problem" can be solved by these clowns we call Congress getting together, raising their hands and say "I vote that we don't have a problem anymore", and the "problem" is gone, we don't have a real problem. And that's what the debt ceiling is.
I control one house of Congress in Casa Hovey. The Mrs. controls the other. We have, through some heated negotiations over the years, agreed upon "debt ceilings." They have become the law of our house. Without casting any stones, I can also tell you this law has been violated by certain parties. This has lead to name calling, heated discussions, recrimination and the like. But it has been worked out.
Same way with this debt ceiling. Congress has set the taxes. Congress has appropriated money and taken on certain obligations. When this artificial debt ceiling is hit, here is what's going to happen. Obama is going to tell Treasury, go ahead and sell the bonds. Cruz, or some other clown will organize a lawsuit claiming that Treasury and Obama are breaking the law. Finally, the grownups in the Courts will get to tell them that you don't get to have an absurd result. You can't commit to certain obligations, then have taxes that generate not enough revenue. Pay your bills. No one is going to default (except for maybe me, unless I can figure out how to win a majority in both houses in Casa Hovey's next election).