Also, Democrats, CNN, MSNBC, NYT, will you please educate Joe Public that the Debt is NOT the same thing as the deficit, it is NOT like your household debt, it is an artificial concept that naturally increases every year if only because of inflation, and may actually reflect good stuff like economic activity. It is NOT "something we have to get down, because we can't just keep letting it go up." Yes, it is something we can just keep letting go up. It's been going up steadily for 250 years. Other countries don't worry about it. What makes America so special?
Stop this Republican blackmail once and for all. See you in court.
Thank you Professor. Article 6, Section 1, says essentially the same thing. Amendment 14 section 4 reinforces it. The debt ceiling is as Unconstitutional today as it was in 1917. The only option for the current House of Representatives is to refuse to pass any NEW legislation that would add to that debt. They can not, by Constitutional Law, prevent the Federal Government from paying debts already incurred. This is one of the many reasons for we, as citizens and voters, MUST demand that all persons elected or appointed to public office at any level MUST read and comprehend the Constitution. It is unfortunate the Framers assumed that anyone seeking public office would, of course, read and know the Constitution. They would never understand the utter stupidity of today's maggots.
YES!, YES!, YES! As both a legal and a practical matter, "we" Democrats, Progressives, and the few remaining sane Republicans MUST INSIST that we follow the Constitution. The House and Senate GOP will not cooperate anyway. Thank you, Professor and Secretary Reich for unequivocally supporting this avenue of response to the GOP. Actually, President Biden should never have asked for their permission in the first place.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the only major bargaining chip that the Republicans have crumbles like a rice cake when used as frisbees?
Robert has not only the perfect solution, but a wonderful way to put Republicans in their place. Much whining will fill the airwaves, but there is nothing that Republicans are trying to do that actually helps anyone without a seven figure bank account.
Given the Roe v Wade decision showing their penchant for making stuff up, I lack your faith that the fake "originalists" will stick to the actual language and/or intent of The Constitution. I wish us luck!
But the point is we really need to also deal with the ever increasing deficits, the interest paid alone to borrow to run our country each year is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Insane.
The cuts need to come mostly from the exorbitant immoral Defense Dept budget, and more tax money collected from the exorbitantly rich, along with everyone paring back excesses. We should be expanding programs to help the struggling many, increasing healthcare coverage at lower costs and regulating obscene profits of insurers and pharmaceuticals. The Social security program needs to be maintained and funded properly.
I agree. I keep yelling at the radio while listening to NPR: Biden, stick to your guns! It’s ludicrous that the press is blaming “both sides” for the debt ceiling crisis, and repeating the MAGA’s claim that in failing to “negotiate”, Biden will be the cause of the U.S. default.
To Robert Reich's commentary: HEAR! HEAR! A thousand times over, Hear! Hear! Biden MUST stand up to these traitors who are commandeering our country in every way and, it needs to be said again, what they are doing is NOTHING that American citizens want!! They are dangerous to America and the world and are brazenly anti-American and should be treated as enemies, not as normal electeds who can engage in honest negotiations or discussions.
That said, Noam Chomsky's wise words about America being a one-party system, "The Business Party" was never more in evidence than in the decadence and debauchery of the White House Correspondents event over the weekend. The party favors should have been violins and table-top fires so the full display of "fiddling while Rome burns" could have been enacted. What a disgusting show of disregard and disrespect. For God's sake, America: wake up!
It is more like a debt oath than a debt ceiling when tied into the constitution, just as they made an oath to the constitution, they seemingly made an oath to honor the public debt. The fact they won’t honor the public debt is very dangerous and going to hurt everyone including themselves, they can’t even vote to help themselves at this point when the public debt and the budgets are two separate issues.
The "Republicans" in Congress seem to be some really toxic combination of libertarian-anarchy-fascism and they must be stopped by Biden and the Democrats, if Democrats truly care.
In a somewhat real or "lets apply common sense" world I would agree with you Robert...but as of recent times, in the last many "post Reagan years" going forward, "common sense actions" to support long term quality goals has been sorely lacking, thus we are where we today.
Fact based realities have been replaced with fictional conspiratorial nonsense with no basis in fact or the concern for facts, laws, precedent, population health, financial health, fairness, equity, for the masses. We, as a species, are still fighting wars over resources using everything from religious to conspiracy based excuses to kill and maim multiple thousands of innocent persons. Currency/money/power/control over others, are still the most important drivers and control the actions of the majority of the world for good and evil, and in most cases, survival.
I think we will probably survive this latest adventure down our historic self destructive path but...the pattern is tracked by the Doomsday Clock for all who care to see...90 seconds. The intensity of the threats to our existence have increased exponentially...our historic human search for a better understanding has not. We have consistently allowed a few bullies to dictate/manipulate our actions and activities with no regard for the known future consequences. In the past we have been willing and able to adapt... but technology without safe guards has us at 90 seconds and we have not changed or addressed, any of the causes affecting the negative progression of the timetable. I don't believe that technology, as it is used today, will be the answer we need. Anything that Biden can do to raise the debt ceiling will be a stop gap measure...an historic band aid if you will. One of many, while working toward a time when there's nothing left of substance in the way of baseline resources to be patched. The Earth has a finite resource base to support human life. Once used up...humanity perishes. We are in a race to the bottom.
Also, Democrats, CNN, MSNBC, NYT, will you please educate Joe Public that the Debt is NOT the same thing as the deficit, it is NOT like your household debt, it is an artificial concept that naturally increases every year if only because of inflation, and may actually reflect good stuff like economic activity. It is NOT "something we have to get down, because we can't just keep letting it go up." Yes, it is something we can just keep letting go up. It's been going up steadily for 250 years. Other countries don't worry about it. What makes America so special?
Stop this Republican blackmail once and for all. See you in court.
Seriously good, thank you.
Do what your authority is required to, President Biden, and waste not one more moment.
Let’s go, Dark Brandon.
Thank you Professor. Article 6, Section 1, says essentially the same thing. Amendment 14 section 4 reinforces it. The debt ceiling is as Unconstitutional today as it was in 1917. The only option for the current House of Representatives is to refuse to pass any NEW legislation that would add to that debt. They can not, by Constitutional Law, prevent the Federal Government from paying debts already incurred. This is one of the many reasons for we, as citizens and voters, MUST demand that all persons elected or appointed to public office at any level MUST read and comprehend the Constitution. It is unfortunate the Framers assumed that anyone seeking public office would, of course, read and know the Constitution. They would never understand the utter stupidity of today's maggots.
YES!, YES!, YES! As both a legal and a practical matter, "we" Democrats, Progressives, and the few remaining sane Republicans MUST INSIST that we follow the Constitution. The House and Senate GOP will not cooperate anyway. Thank you, Professor and Secretary Reich for unequivocally supporting this avenue of response to the GOP. Actually, President Biden should never have asked for their permission in the first place.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the only major bargaining chip that the Republicans have crumbles like a rice cake when used as frisbees?
Robert has not only the perfect solution, but a wonderful way to put Republicans in their place. Much whining will fill the airwaves, but there is nothing that Republicans are trying to do that actually helps anyone without a seven figure bank account.
Given the Roe v Wade decision showing their penchant for making stuff up, I lack your faith that the fake "originalists" will stick to the actual language and/or intent of The Constitution. I wish us luck!
From your mouth to Joe Biden’s ears. F the Republicans. They care not one whit about this country. Kevin McCarthy is a fool.
I agree the debt ceiling needs to be raised.
But the point is we really need to also deal with the ever increasing deficits, the interest paid alone to borrow to run our country each year is in the hundreds of billions of dollars. Insane.
The cuts need to come mostly from the exorbitant immoral Defense Dept budget, and more tax money collected from the exorbitantly rich, along with everyone paring back excesses. We should be expanding programs to help the struggling many, increasing healthcare coverage at lower costs and regulating obscene profits of insurers and pharmaceuticals. The Social security program needs to be maintained and funded properly.
Stop the wars!
I agree. I keep yelling at the radio while listening to NPR: Biden, stick to your guns! It’s ludicrous that the press is blaming “both sides” for the debt ceiling crisis, and repeating the MAGA’s claim that in failing to “negotiate”, Biden will be the cause of the U.S. default.
"Never argue with idiots. They'll just drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." - George Carlin
"Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pigs like it." - attributed to both Mark Twain or George Bernard Shaw
There must be more, folks - c'mon, chime in
To Robert Reich's commentary: HEAR! HEAR! A thousand times over, Hear! Hear! Biden MUST stand up to these traitors who are commandeering our country in every way and, it needs to be said again, what they are doing is NOTHING that American citizens want!! They are dangerous to America and the world and are brazenly anti-American and should be treated as enemies, not as normal electeds who can engage in honest negotiations or discussions.
That said, Noam Chomsky's wise words about America being a one-party system, "The Business Party" was never more in evidence than in the decadence and debauchery of the White House Correspondents event over the weekend. The party favors should have been violins and table-top fires so the full display of "fiddling while Rome burns" could have been enacted. What a disgusting show of disregard and disrespect. For God's sake, America: wake up!
It is more like a debt oath than a debt ceiling when tied into the constitution, just as they made an oath to the constitution, they seemingly made an oath to honor the public debt. The fact they won’t honor the public debt is very dangerous and going to hurt everyone including themselves, they can’t even vote to help themselves at this point when the public debt and the budgets are two separate issues.
The Speaker of the House Kevin must be related to the dummy Charlie McCarthy!
He is just saying what the radical right members are telling him to say. His position is being held hostage by these traitors!
If the Republicans really want to reduce the deficit they should wait until they are back in the White House. Don’t hold the Country hostage.
The "Republicans" in Congress seem to be some really toxic combination of libertarian-anarchy-fascism and they must be stopped by Biden and the Democrats, if Democrats truly care.
This argument wins the day. It is correct. It is simple. They dare not comply! You are brilliant.
In a somewhat real or "lets apply common sense" world I would agree with you Robert...but as of recent times, in the last many "post Reagan years" going forward, "common sense actions" to support long term quality goals has been sorely lacking, thus we are where we today.
Fact based realities have been replaced with fictional conspiratorial nonsense with no basis in fact or the concern for facts, laws, precedent, population health, financial health, fairness, equity, for the masses. We, as a species, are still fighting wars over resources using everything from religious to conspiracy based excuses to kill and maim multiple thousands of innocent persons. Currency/money/power/control over others, are still the most important drivers and control the actions of the majority of the world for good and evil, and in most cases, survival.
I think we will probably survive this latest adventure down our historic self destructive path but...the pattern is tracked by the Doomsday Clock for all who care to see...90 seconds. The intensity of the threats to our existence have increased exponentially...our historic human search for a better understanding has not. We have consistently allowed a few bullies to dictate/manipulate our actions and activities with no regard for the known future consequences. In the past we have been willing and able to adapt... but technology without safe guards has us at 90 seconds and we have not changed or addressed, any of the causes affecting the negative progression of the timetable. I don't believe that technology, as it is used today, will be the answer we need. Anything that Biden can do to raise the debt ceiling will be a stop gap measure...an historic band aid if you will. One of many, while working toward a time when there's nothing left of substance in the way of baseline resources to be patched. The Earth has a finite resource base to support human life. Once used up...humanity perishes. We are in a race to the bottom.