There aren’t many positive aspects to the looming possibility of a U.S. debt default. But there has been, I have to admit, an element of comic relief — of the black-humor variety — in the spectacle of so many people who have been in denial suddenly waking up and smelling the crazy.
A number of commentators seem shocked at how unreasonable Republicans are being. “Has the G.O.P. gone insane?” they ask.
Why, yes, it has. But this isn’t something that just happened, it’s the culmination of a process that has been going on for decades. Anyone surprised by the extremism and irresponsibility now on display either hasn’t been paying attention, or has been deliberately turning a blind eye.
And may I say to those suddenly agonizing over the mental health of one of our two major parties: People like you bear some responsibility for that party’s current state.
Which brings me to the culpability of those who are only now facing up to the G.O.P.’s craziness.
Here’s the point: those within the G.O.P. who had misgivings about the embrace of tax-cut fanaticism might have made a stronger stand if there had been any indication that such fanaticism came with a price, if outsiders had been willing to condemn those who took irresponsible positions.
But there has been no such price. Mr. Bush squandered the surplus of the late Clinton years, yet prominent pundits pretend that the two parties share equal blame for our debt problems. Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, proposed a supposed deficit-reduction plan that included huge tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, then received an award for fiscal responsibility.
So there has been no pressure on the G.O.P. to show any kind of responsibility, or even rationality — and sure enough, it has gone off the deep end. If you’re surprised, that means that you were part of the problem.
Bernanke also said that gold was not money LOL! This is who is running our Treasury?
gold
[gohld] Show IPA
–noun
1.
a precious yellow metallic element, highly malleable and ductile, and not subject to oxidation or corrosion. Symbol: Au; atomic weight: 196.967; atomic number: 79; specific gravity: 19.3 at 20°C.
2.
a quantity of gold coins: to pay in gold.
3.
a monetary standard based on this metal; gold standard.
Typical Dem debating point: there are no moderate Republicans, they are all bats in the belfry radicals.
I could cast Obama & Pelosi as crazy for approving a budget that spent 40% more money than it took in. But Krugman doesn't think so, in fact, he is crazy enough to think we should have spent tens of billions more on stimulus. Money that our kids will have to repay. Who is crazy now?
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
archer wrote: We're not on the gold standard any more.....another really crappy economic decision made by a Republican.
There are ways to cheat the gold standard. Instead of it being $100 paper dollars per ounce, one day, you can decree it will be $1000 paper dollars per ounce.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
"there are no moderate Republicans, they are all bats in the belfry radicals."
Yes... That is true... There are no such thing as moderates any more because they've all been pushed out of the party; threatened with TeaBagger primaries; and are crawling all over each other to see who can get further to the right than the others to appeal to the crazies... The days of "moderate Republicans" is over... That's ONE of the reasons I quit the party years ago...
I see what the author of the "story" and the OP mean.....
What we should do is keep on spending money like crazy - just keep on going...
That's what they mean, oh and raise taxes, because that'll help alot!
Yes- I see what they mean by crazy, republicans who were elected by alot of pissed off people doing what they were elected to do.
LadyJazzer wrote: "there are no moderate Republicans, they are all bats in the belfry radicals."
Yes... That is true... There are no such thing as moderates any more because they've all been pushed out of the party; threatened with TeaBagger primaries; and are crawling all over each other to see who can get further to the right than the others to appeal to the crazies... The days of "moderate Republicans" is over... That's ONE of the reasons I quit the party years ago...
I did not know you used to be an r. That helps explain why you are so strident. Kind of like a sinner that is born again, or a smoker who quits. Keep up the good work.
