Submitted by Mike Appleton (Guest Blogger)
The debate raging in Congress over increasing the so-called “debt ceiling” makes for wonderfully frenetic headlines. It allows Republicans to play pin the blame on the donkey and Democrats to respond with accusations of irresponsible brinkmanship. In the end it is likely that a bill in some form will be passed because the government must pay its bills.
But lost in the frenzy is a fundamental question. The budget is determined by Congress through the appropriations process. Therefore, Congress essentially determines the amount of the nation’s debt. The borrowing authority granted by Congress to the Treasury provides flexibility in financing that debt. The executive branch cannot spend more than is appropriated, nor borrow more than is needed to service debt.
So, since Congress controls the purse strings, and the power of the President is limited to implementing the fiscal will of Congress, why is it necessary to periodically debate Treasury’s borrowing authority? More specifically, is there any logical reason for the imposition of the misnamed “debt ceiling”?
No.
The debt was massive even before Bush. It got that way because “We, the people” are idiots who keep voting in people who truly represent us. We want Representatives and Senators in Congress who promise to give us stuff instead of making decisions in the best interests of the Republic as a whole.
I know who to blame. Us. All of us.
bacchys,
The massive debt got that way via 2 ridiculous wars and an unneeded trillion dollar tax cut for the wealthy put forth by Bush for his self admitted base “The Haves and Have Mores”. Add to it the non-regulation of banks, Bill Clinton involved in that and you have the recipe for financial disaster. you can’t fix a problem without first knowing the context and then affixing blame to the policies.
To Mike Spindell:
The debt ceiling has been around since 1917, so it’s not some smoke and mirrors political tactic.
The wisdom of having a debt ceiling is open to question, I agree, though I do wonder how high those who think we shouldn’t have a debt ceiling (or that we should raise it reflexively) think we can let the debt get before it becomes unsustainable.
We’re not at risk of having our credit rating downgraded because the debt ceiling might not get raised. We’re at risk of that because the credit rating companies are worried we’re overloaded with debt.
Sometimes it is true that a picture speaks a thousand words. Or maybe more.
See cartoon at the link:
http://images1.dailykos.com/i/user/312562/Kos-7.jpg
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/opinion/sunday/dowd-tempest-in-a-tea-party.html?ref=maureendowd We are in default to the tea party.
SwM, Yes. I thought this was the most telling quote from the article:
OS …….. submitting to the economic terrorism of the tea party
Here are a few comments on the debt ceiling debate by David Atkins, who normally writes under the username “thereisnospoon.” Worth a read. And some gnashing of teeth.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/do-not-go-gently-into-that-goodnight-by.html
http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/92941/the-debt-ceiling-crisis-and-the-failure-the-establishment
THINK?
Either party, Democrat, Republican are completely ignorant or just intentionally remain unconcerned about the massive expenditures for pandering to the illegal alien invasion. The federal debt ceiling and all 50 States have huge deficits from the illegal immigration occupation. Schools, health care and programs that is reducing America to a pauper nation. You as the American people must start yelling at the politicians in Washington, to demand they recognize that this issue is part of the discretionary spending. Only Rep. Michele Bachmann R-MN) Leader of the Tea Party Caucus, dares to speaks out about this issue, with a conviction that this is part of our national issues. The TEA PARTY membership can now be counted in the tens of million of ordinary citizens, who are black , Hispanic, White and other races. Bombard Congress with you voices, tell them no Amnesty, No Immigration Reform, no Sanctuary cities or States and No Dream Acts.
REMOVE ILLEGAL ALIENS AND THAT WILL CONSERVE TAXPAYER MONEY, AND MOVE US ON TOWARDS A BALANCED US TREASURY BUDGET AND THAT INCLUDES ALL 50 STATES WILL ARE SUFFERING AS WELL.
This needs to be repeated that When (Fair) analyzed the cost of illegal immigration and its nationwide deficit, they came up with a stunning figure of $113 billion dollars annually, while illegal alien revenue to the government coffers was a total amount of $13Billion dollars and change. Not included in these illegal foreign labors is wages leaving the country to foreign nations, estimated to be 46 Billion dollars? Our economy is sinking and the Obama administration is insisting on passage of another Amnesty failure. Heritage Foundation has stated that cost for processing another Amnesty expenditure is another 2.5 Trillion dollars.
Break down of revenue to support illegal migrants and illegal immigrants.
Federal Expenditures on Illegal Aliens
Education Title 1 program $1,332,900,000
Migrant education program $236,900,000
Title 111 program $538,000,000
Education Subtotal $2,107,800,000
Medical Emergency medical care $250,000,000
Fraudulent use of Medicaid $1,235,000,000
Medicaid cost of childbirth $1,238,100,000
Medicaid for children $1,626,800,000
other medical outlays $1,600,000,000
Medical Subtotal $5,949,900,000
Law enforcement Scaap compensation $330,000,000
Federal incarceration $678,400,000
Byrne grants $24,300,000
Detention and removal $2,545,000,000
Project safe neighborhoods $39,500,000
Residual ice functions $2,824,000,000
Exec. Office of immigration review $222,500,000
Southwest border prosecution $33,000,000
National Guard $642,000,000
Coast Guard $500,000,000
Law Enforcement Subtotal $7,838,700,000
Public assistance Free and reduced meal program $2,264,600,000
Temporary assist. Needy families $1,030,000,000
Housing assistance programs $637,000,000
Child care & development fund $633,000,000
Public Assistance Subtotal $4,564,600,000
General expenditures $8,184,400,000
TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR US GOVERNMENT $28B, 645,400,000
State/Local Expenditures on Illegal Aliens ($ M)
Alabama $298 Illinois $4B,592 Montana $32 Rhode Island $278
Alaska $139 Indiana $608 Nebraska $262 S. Carolina $391
Arizona $2B,569 Iowa $350 Nevada $1B,191 S. Dakota $33
Arkansas $244 Kansas $442 New Hampshire $123 Tennessee $547
California $21B,756 Kentucky $280 New Jersey $3B,478 Texas $8B,878
Colorado $1B,451 Louisiana $224 New Mexico $608 Utah $453
Connecticut $957 Maine $41 New York $9B,479 Vermont $38
Wash D.C. $312 Maryland $1B,724 N. Carolina $2B,063 Virginia $1B,905
Delaware $305 Massachusetts. $1B, 862 N. Dakota $32
Washington State $1B, 510; Florida $5B,463 Michigan $929,
Ohio $563 W. Virginia. $31; Georgia $2B; 399 Minnesota,
$744 Oklahoma $465 Wisconsin $883.Hawaii $155 Mississippi.
$106 Oregon $705 Wyoming $51, Idaho $188 Missouri $338,
Penn. $1B,378
TOTAL STATE AND MUNICIPAL $83B,851
REVENUE INTO FEDERAL AND STATE TREASURIES FROM ILLEGAL ALIENS
Category federal State/local
Income -$2,302,800,000 $244,200,000
Social security $7,000,000,000
Medicare tax $1,637,100,000
Excise and miscellaneous $2,489,700,000
Employer (FUTA & income) $632,600,000
Property tax $1,378,000,000
Sales tax $2,333,000,000
TOTAL FEDERAL,STATE, LOCAL GOVERNMENT FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS $ 13B, 235.000.000
NOW CALCULATE THIS! TAKE $13.235.000.000 FROM $113.296.000.000 = ( $110.061.400.000 )
IN TAXES AMERICANS SUPPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS ANNUALLY $110.061.400.000
If you as a taxpayer wants to keep paying financial support for 20 million illegal aliens outlaws, then you deserve higher taxes and loss of jobs. Read the projections of future years if our borders remain unsecured, or no tracking system for 40 percent of visa over stays, who disappear and all take American workers jobs. Go to the Heritage Foundation website, NumbersUSA or Judicial Watch and read for the dollar figures that will turn your stomach sour. This is a patriotic chance to help your fellow jobless countryman by Calling House and Senate Leadership NOW Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
COPY THIS INFORMATION AND DISTRIBUTE TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
As Mike A explained there is no rational need for a debt ceiling, it is merely another one of the smoke and mirror tactics used to keep we the citizens confused and anxious. The minion of Grover Norquist couldn’t come right out and say we are trying to destroy every benefit the government gives to the common people of this country and we engorge the coffers of the wealthy elite. That wouldn’t play in an election so smoke and mirrors is used to divert us and people are paid to propagandize by arguing over these illusions.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/07/43-republicans-pledge-to-kill-reid-plan-in-the-senate.php?ref=fpa Obama summons Pelosi and Reid to the White House.