Can someone please educate me

[puglogic]

Seriously, that's not a trap question. I am just looking for a reality check on a gut-level response to the latest "deal" to avert our self-made crisis:

"The compromise would fund the federal government through Jan. 15 and extend the borrowing power, known as the debt ceiling, through Feb. 7. It also calls for an agreement by mid-December on a long-term budget plan."

This seems --- to this naive girl --- to be no more than kicking the can down the road yet again, so someone else can deal with it next quarter. Agreement by mid-December....or what?

Am I missing something? I guess I was hoping someone would come up with something more substantive than this.

I would be delighted for someone to straighten my thinking out, though. Is this a good thing somehow?

[Alan]

You're right, it's just kicking the can down the road.

I can't help but think that this is the price we pay for not having a real budget. The Senate hasn't allowed one from the House to come up for a vote since FY'09, hence the need for periodic continuing resolutions.

[bae]

I think you have the size of it, Pug.

[Yossarian]

Seriously, that's not a trap question. I am just looking for a reality check on a gut-level response to the latest "deal" to avert our self-made crisis:

"The compromise would fund the federal government through Jan. 15 and extend the borrowing power, known as the debt ceiling, through Feb. 7. It also calls for an agreement by mid-December on a long-term budget plan."

This seems --- to this naive girl --- to be no more than kicking the can down the road yet again, so someone else can deal with it next quarter.

Maybe, but if you think about it all the options anyone is discussing are just kicking the can down the road. It's just a matter of how far and who notices. If they had passed a full budget back when or did it now what do you think is happening? Just more borrowing to hide the fact we can't pay for the spending. Eventually we won't have enough other funds to pay for the government programs even if we wanted to- that's the real self made crisis. I don't think the situation was handled well, but I don't see any moral superiority in prolonging the inter-generational warfare of the status quo.

[lac]

Sometimes I wish Mr. Money Mustache and his followers could run government. Bet we would save tons of money and business would thrive.

[Rogar]

Kicking the can down the road is my read also. My best guess is that next time the kicker will not be de-funding the ACA, but a sequester replacement plan...or lack there of. Though I'm sure de-funding ACA will continue in other arenas for the near future.

[puglogic]

Well, then. (big sigh)

I guess this gives me a little extra time to pay off our solar panels. And my government-employed friends and family might get to go back to work.

There, that's about as positive a spin as I can put on this for myself. Exhausting - I need a nap now :)

[CathyA]

There was a local guy on the news who said "Fortunately, this is happening just in time for the holiday shopping." >8)

[iris lilies]

There was a local guy on the news who said "Fortunately, this is happening just in time for the holiday shopping." >8) oh that made me laugh. but ugh.

[Rogar]

CNN claims that the shutdown took 24 billion out of the economy and will effect overall growth for the 4th quarter. As far as I can tell absolutely nothing got accomplished.

[iris lilies]

CNN claims that the shutdown took 24 billion out of the economy and will effect overall growth for the 4th quarter. As far as I can tell absolutely nothing got accomplished.

A lot like the Occupy events only there was less trash in D.C.

[puglogic]

A lot like the Occupy events only there was less trash in D.C.

Oh, the trash is STILL in DC, just much harder to take out :devil:

[Rogar]

Oh, the trash is STILL in DC, just much harder to take out :devil:

Arrff, arf, arf.

[Gregg]

Oh, the trash is STILL in DC, just much harder to take out :devil:

Yuck, yuck, yuck!



There was a local guy on the news who said "Fortunately, this is happening just in time for the holiday shopping." >8)

I think we have a winner. Every politician worth their mojo knows you better rescue the 4th quarter even if the rest of the year is trashed. Notice all the kicked cans landed after the holidaze.

I can see no real possibility for this annual spectacle to change until we do. We, as in the citizens, not the Congress we elect. Fixing the problem will take some hard choices. Taxes will need to go up, and not just on the 1%. Programs that people depend on or just simply like will need to be cut. Government contracts will need to go unsigned reducing corporate profits for investors and eliminating jobs for workers. Government sector jobs will need to be eliminated and the benefit packages of the ones that remain will need to be scaled back. And on and on... Real change would be driven by eliminating the perpetual growth cycle built on borrowed money. As much fun as it is to bitch about Congress the truth is that everyone there knows the real fix would be political suicide.

[Yossarian]

Maybe, but if you think about it all the options anyone is discussing are just kicking the can down the road. It's just a matter of how far and who notices. If they had passed a full budget back when or did it now what do you think is happening? Just more borrowing to hide the fact we can't pay for the spending. Eventually we won't have enough other funds to pay for the government programs even if we wanted to- that's the real self made crisis. I don't think the situation was handled well, but I don't see any moral superiority in prolonging the inter-generational warfare of the status quo.

Maybe there is hope that people are figuring this out (even the NY Times gets my point) :|(



http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/opinion/friedman-sorry-kids-we-ate-it-all.html?_r=0

Sorry, Kids. We Ate It All.

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/editorialsandoped/oped/columnists/thomaslfriedman/index.html)


Eventually this shutdown crisis will end. And eventually the two parties will make another stab at a deal on taxes, investments and entitlements. But there’s one outcome from such negotiations that I can absolutely guarantee: Seniors, Wall Street and unions will all have their say and their interests protected. So the most likely result will be more tinkering around the edges, as our politicians run for the hills the minute someone accuses them of “fixing the deficit on the backs of the elderly” or creating “death panels” to sensibly allocate end-of-life health care. Could this time be different? Short of an economic meltdown, there is only one thing that might produce meaningful change: a mass movement for tax, spending and entitlement reform led by the cohort that is the least organized but will be the most affected if we don’t think long term — today’s young people.

Whether they realize it or not, they’re the ones who will really get hit by all the cans we’re kicking down the road. After we baby boomers get done retiring — at a rate of 7,000 to 11,000 a day — if current taxes and entitlement promises are not reformed, the cupboard will be largely bare for today’s Facebook generation. But what are the chances of them getting out of Facebook and into their parents’ faces — and demanding not only that the wealthy do their part but that the next generation as a whole leaves something for this one? Too bad young people aren’t paying attention. Or are they?