"If you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it... or make more of it?

It's hard to escape chatter about the Debt Ceiling crisis these days. Especially so close to the deadline. I'd like to hope this is a wake up call to many Americans at just how off track our government has gone. I can't really say anything good about either side of the political fence. Both Dems and Reps seem to be dancing to the tune of corporate fiddlers. But what really gets me is how irresponsible the Republicans are acting. They are intent on ensuring that Obama is a one-term president, so intent in fact they are willing to throw us all under a bus to do it.

The Republicans in Congress continue to try to push bills that cut from vital social programs like social security and medicare while at the same time protecting their corporate buddies by extending tax breaks for the rich and not plugging tax loopholes. These are the same corporations who are sending much needed jobs overseas for cheap labor and are raking in record breaking profits while the middle class slowly erodes away. I have to wonder what happens to them when we're all dead from starvation or barely living in some slum with no money to spend on their goods. Will they turn on each other like cannibals once their current prey (us) have been rung out so hard we have nothing left for them to take? These Republicans know the bills they are putting forward won't pass the senate and then they blame the Democrats/president for not taking the deals and averting the "crisis" they themselves are manufacturing.

On the same token the Democrats aren't exactly saints. Both sides lie to the public but at least I like hearing the Democrat lies and they try every now and then to throw me a bone. Democrats are just as much corporate puppets as Republicans but at least make some passing effort at trying to keep the sheep (us middle class people) healthy so the corporations can keep milking us. I can't fault the Democrats for not accepting the "plans" the Republicans have put forward. I can however fault the Republicans for not knowing that compromise means BOTH sides give a little.

House Speaker Boehner said "If you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it," and while I can agree with that statement I'd also add an addendum to it. "If you're spending more money than you're taking in, you need to spend less of it and/or make more of it". This is what really bugs me about Republicans. They want to ONLY slash spending and do nothing about increasing revenue. Revenue doesn't always have to include taxes but if the big corporations and wealthy 2% of the country were actually paying their fair share we would have a surplus like we did during Clinton's administration before the Bush Tax Cuts screwed us over. And of course President Obama is the one who is the target of the blame.

I feel a little bad for him. I didn't particularly find him to be a great candidate. I was hoping Hillary would have run and won. I have a feeling if she had everything would be different and possibly better but that could just be wishful thinking on my part. Then again she may have realized what a bumpy ride this administration was going to become and took the smart way out he he. One day I hope our government will get their heads out of their asses and start working TOGETHER to make things better for EVERYONE.