Risking default on our debt has no comedic, symbolic, strategic or “performance art” value. Brinksmanship is not statesmanship.
Great damage has already been done. The United States officially reached its debt limit on Thursday. Both U.S. and global markets are spooked. America’s standing in the world has again been dinged. The “word” of the United States is once again unreliable.
This reckless game of “chicken” is hurting and in many cases terrorizing American citizens. The federal government has now resorted to “extraordinary measures” just to keep the ship of state afloat. These “measures” include cheating our own people.
And for what? So that Congressional Republicans can primp, preen, posture and peacock. This is not “public service.” This is blackmail. Republicans are not “standing on principle.” They are stooping to petty political grandstanding. Yet again.
Yes, new spending measures, controls and limits must be adopted going forward through bipartisan legislation. But the immediate issue is honoring and servicing our existing debt from obligations we have already incurred. Responsible adults pay their bills. And they pay their bills on time.
And then there’s this. The United States will be 247 years old in July. Almost one quarter of the total debt the U.S. has taken on in its history was the result of four years of spending during the Trump Administration. Read that again.
The exact figure is 22.3 percent of all debt incurred in almost two and a half centuries. This is a fact. This is math. These are verified numbers.
Not that Republicans believe in facts, math, truth, accountability or verification.
It must be noted that a chunk of that spending during Trump’s presidency resulted from the pandemic. Duly noted. But 22.3 percent of all national debt since 1776?
And the GOP (Group of Prevaricators) has the gall to hold our economy and citizens hostage? Well, yes, they do. Because they have no shame. Or honor. Or devotion to duty.
They’re not patriots. They’re poseurs and posturers.
Donald Trump raped E. Jean Carroll. How do we know? For the same reason we know he lied about the pandemic, lied about the 2020 election, incited the Jan. 6 insurrection and attempted to overthrow the government of the United States.
We know because he has at various times admitted all of those things. Read the transcript of Trump’s deposition in Carroll’s lawsuit. He admitted it.