The Tea Party and the Government Shutdown
While at dinner with friends recently, I was informed that people like me are bankrupting the country. The shutdown of the government was supposed to show that extreme conservatives, also known as the Tea Party, are the common sense fiscal balance for the country.
I listened to the argument that to raise the debt ceiling meant that the government would continue to borrow money to fund social programs that we cannot afford and to continue to fund the Affordable Care Act.
However, there is one problem with this argument, and that is the debt ceiling exists only to allow the government to borrow to meet existing legal obligations. The debt ceiling is not a budget where money is appropriated for new programs or reallocated to existing programs.
The debt ceiling has, since 1917, insured the full faith and credit of the United States, not allowing the default of government bonds. The debt ceiling legally has to be raised when necessary.
The debate and shutdown and the filibuster leading up to the vote are only for political points. Senator Ted Cruz from Texas was already in Iowa last week two years ahead of the first caucuses. He said it had nothing to do with a presidential run and that his mind was totally on the Senate: so why is a Texas Senator in Iowa?
I am not surprised that a shutdown continues to be on the table for Tea Partiers like Cruz, since the only people really hurt are the poor-those that rely on federally funded community services for everything from cab and bus fare to emergency food supplies.
The people like me are the ones who care about the poor and have little regard for grand standing to gain political points at others' expense.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More ucba-activist News Articles
- An Engineering Major's Perspective on the Activist: Margaret Bush Reflects
- Activist Gives a Student Perspective on the News: Ben Rigney Reflects
- Activist Honors First Amendment: Scott Multner Reflects
- The Activist Exists: Shaine Jackson Reflects
Recent ucba-activist News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR UCBA-ACTIVIST
Diversity Focus Groups Report Scheduled for Jan. 14 By Activist Staff
A Look at UCBA's History Shows Growth and Demographic Changes By Ben Rigney, Activist Staff
UC Football Future By Ben Rigney, Activist Staff
Rihanna's Iconic Style Turns Heads By Brett Cummins, Activist Staff
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST UCBA-ACTIVIST NEWS
RECENT UCBA-ACTIVIST CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- A Story To Sing About
- The Gap in Gum Care: Why Caring For Your Teeth’s F...
- Top Tips for Signature Scents and Better-Smelling Laundry
- A Dog Trainer’s Top Tips to Support Pets Through Life S...
- Clear the Air of Indoor Pollutants This Spring
- Stroke & Dementia in Black Men: Tips for Staying Healthy...
- Hispanics and African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye...
- African Americans at Higher Risk for Eye Disease
- Infinity Kings: Final Book In A Favorite Fantasy Series
- What You Need To Know About Keratoconus and the iLink...
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- 7 Reasons Renting an RV Should Be On Every Family’s S...
- Don’t Let Diabetes Shortchange Your Golden Years
- No Child is Forgotten By Marine Toys for Tots
- Sweeten Your Springtime Salads With Healthy Chilean Grapes
- Young Author Translates 4,000-Year-Old Text to Reveal...
- Keeping Cool and Energy-efficient Amid America’s “...
- Addressing Sarcopenia with a Healthy Diet
- Subway’s New Wraps Elevate Eating on the Go
- Family Teacher Conference Topics Beyond Academics
- Youth Take Down Tobacco
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Shoff Promotions Comic Book & Sports Card Show
- Semiconductor Research Corp unveils 2024 Research Call, $13.8M Funding
- Charles River Associates Opens Second Scholarship Cycle, Expands to the UK
- BLUMHOUSE AND AMC THEATRES LAUNCH FIRST-EVER HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL
- THE GEN Z IMPERATIVE: LISTEN TO FEELINGS AND GIVE GEN Z A VOICE