Mental

I'm very happy to hear that Congress decided not to hamstring our economy. Seems like a prudent choice. Of course, we'll have to debate whether to hamstring our economy again in a few months. Evidently the prospect is tempting enough to some that they want another whack at it.

Actually, I don't even have to speculate. There are some people in Congress who have said outright that they think we should have defaulted on our debts. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has repeatedly stated her opposition to raising the debt ceiling. It's not that she opposed the deal passed by Congress, but she was against the very idea of raising the debt ceiling. In an interview where a Fox news anchor asked incredulously if she actually can't call the bill averting a disaster a good thing, she said she couldn't, saying that it would lead to long term ruin. Evidently that is not quick enough for Bachmann, who would seem to want ruin in the short term. Letting the US default on its debt because you're afraid the country will get into serious financial trouble in the future is like cutting off your foot because you're afraid you'll run over a cliff.

The part that really scares me, is that Michele Bachmann is considered a legitimate contender for President. Ron Paul, another GOP candidate, also holds the position that we shouldn't raise the debt ceiling. When these people to say we refuse to pay the debts we already owe and instead default, they lose the right to say the words "fiscal responsibility" except when immediately preceded by the words "I know nothing about". These people need to put down those sweet paint chips they've been munching on, toss that mercury smoothie, and get the heck away from the halls of power before they hurt someone or, you know, hamstring our economy. Taking the economy hostage is not an acceptable way to pass legislation.

Not that the rest of Congress or the President have acquitted themselves well. I'd like to think that Speaker Boehner and Obama could have settled this like adults if Boehner could have kept the crazies in line. Even if their plan went nowhere, the only people who came out of this with much respect left were the members of the Gang of Six who sat down together and put together a plan.

Okay, I'm trying to stop this political stuff. I apologize for the rant. This isn't like me. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out.