Annoyed

[filkertom]

The current threat to the world's economy, posed by the radical-right nutbars of the G.O.P., has nothing whatever to do with fiscal responsibility. Lest it be forgotten:

1. The debt ceiling has to be raised so that we have the authorization to pay money we've already borrowed and now must pay back.
2. We have the money to do that.
3. The Republicans in the House are holding this, the good credit name of the U.S., hostage so that they can cut spending to government.
4. They only want to cut spending to the parts of the government they don't like.
5. The Republican excuse is that we are way in the hole. The reason we're in this hole is primarily because of the Republican party, indeed many of the same people who authorized (among other things) humongous unnecessary tax cuts for rich people, two off-the-books wars, and a Medicare drug plan breathtaking in its stupidity.
6. There are no increased revenues in any of the deals out there, because everyone knows taxes are bad, right? Except taxes are what pays for civilization. You know, street repair, police & fire protection, pollution control, food and water and drug inspection, that sort of thing. The stuff that's falling apart right now because Republicans in power, both in Washington and in states across the country, are telling everybody we need austerity, when what we need is to get the frickin' money into play.
7. Not to mention the dissection of the social safety net, which we really need right now because there aren't any jobs.
8. Jobs! We have to protect the "job creators" -- rich people -- from paying too much in taxes or they won't create jobs. Except their taxes were lowered ten years ago, and they promptly took jobs to cheaper, foreign markets and racked up the profits.
9. You know what creates jobs? Supply and demand. That is, people -- employed people -- spending money. Workers. Their families. The ones who don't have money, and can't get employed.
10. This is all Obama's fault. I only say that somewhat facetiously. That is the tone and the phrasing that the rotten Republican thugs who have no concern for anything except Their Side Winning. But a lot of the blame can be laid at the feet of The Only President We've Got, who is such a warm and caring man who wants everybody to play nice together and is so certain that he can appeal to the angels of the G.O.P.'s better natures that he has bargained away half the fucking government to a bunch of insane thugs who have latched onto the fact that, rather than say, Enough Is Enough, he will offer even more, and they will pay no cost whatever, either in demands or in reputation.

The recession "ended" two years ago, for the ruling class. The rest of us are still fucked, still desperate, still waiting for something resembling sanity, still hoping that some of the people in Washington remember that their job is not to Win One For The Team but to take care of the interests of the people they represent.

It ain't happening.

O Lord, if you're really up there as some say you are, I beseech you: Bestow upon me a big honkin' winner in the Mega Millions, so that I may gather mine closest and best loved and a bunch of my friends and move to someplace sane before the shitheads and fucktards passing themselves off as Very Serious People in Washington break this country beyond repair.

Lacking that, please tell President Obama that you can't negotiate with crazy people, and you really shouldn't try.

I know, I know. Too effing late.

Comments

[pickledcritter.livejournal.com]

Except that in this case the petulant children are holding the checkbook, credit cards and PINs.

You can say that Obama shouldn't make deals all day long, but in the end when the nuts have control like they do in the house, you have do what you can to hang on to what you can. This wouldn't have been an issue if the Tea Party hadn't hijacked the House in '10.

The only real solution is to get your friends in the areas where the nutjobs were elected to go out and make sure saner people take their place next year.

[cscottd.livejournal.com]

I'm not suggesting that he shouldn't make deals. Compromise (real compromise) is what both sides need to be doing right now.

All I'm saying is that when you're trying to negotiate with someone who's idea of "compromise" seems to be sticking their fingers in their ears and chanting "Lalala", you can't just keep giving them everything they want and hoping that they'll decide, at some point, to move slightly in your direction.