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A Viable Start to Debt Reform
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Speaker John
Boehner is continuing to stand firm on his refusal to agree to President Obama’s
debt reduction plan; his stubbornness reinforced by Tea Party activists and “ideological
freshman” in the Republican caucus. “In West Chester, Ohio –Tea Party activists
demanded House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner deliver on budget cuts
at a rally on Monday at his Ohio offices, urging the Republican leader to “stand
strong” in debt negotiations” (MSNBC, 2011). No wonder he is standing his
political ground, if he falters in his position he may lose his seat. “The Tea
Party movement, which advocates limited government, was vital to Republican
gains in last year’s congressional elections, helping them gain the majority in
the House that resulted in Boehner taking the speakership” (MSNBC, 2011). This
firm stand however, may cost the GOP the 2012 election.
The reason for
this analysis is: President Obama is taking pain-staking measures to publically
blame the Republican party for the stalled debt talks; making sure the American
people see him as willing to compromise for the ‘sake’ of the American people. If
one thinks of this in terms of election 2012, most of America’s population is
middle class, poor (on entitlements or government programs), or military –that is
a majority vote in the eyes of a future Presidential candidate; moreover, the
rest of the population is minority votes that usually sway Democrat. “Neither
party is blameless,” said the President” (MSNBC, 2011). This was a smart political
statement for Obama; history has proven that the American people
respect responsibility. Similarly, continuing to stress that the Republican
Party wants Medicare and Medicaid cut to the extreme, causing hardship for the
biggest majority of Americans is equally strategic.
Boehner
obviously peeved at the Presidents blame game and accusations tells the media
Monday night, “I want you to know I made a sincere effort to work with the
President…even when we thought we might be close on an agreement, the President’s
demands changed” (MSNBC, 2011). Boehner clearly holding the President
responsible for the debt talks breakdown, he goes on to suggest, “The sad truth
is that the President wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank
check today…that is just not going to happen” (MSNBC, 2011). One thing is
certain however, if the debt ceiling is not raised by August 2, 2011, America
will default; this will cause widespread consequences that the American people
and Government are not ready to deal with.
With all the
cutting, raising, debating, and promising that is done in Washington, these
politicians have never once suggested a pay cut for themselves, or layoffs in
the political genre, or cutting out paid insurance for them and their families.
Well, this writer received an e-mail today and I found it interesting to say
the least; it is one certain way to save the taxpayers’ money and help balance
the budget. I am not certain of the original author, but, in the e-mail it said
“if you agree pass it along”; this is my way of passing it along –as I believe
this is a viable start. Let me know what you think of this idea and why.
“Congressional Reform Act of 2011
1. No Tenure / No
Pension. A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay
when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past,
present & future) participates in Social Security. All funds in the
Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately.
All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress
participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
*
*3. Congress can
purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
*
*4. Congress will
no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower
of CPI or 3%.
*
*5. Congress loses
their current health care system and participates in the same health care
system as the American people.
*
*6. Congress must
equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
*
*7. All contracts
with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. ****The American
people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these
contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The
Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.
*
*If each person
contacts a minimum of twenty people then it will only take three days for most
people (in the U.S. ) to receive the message. Maybe it is time.
*
*THIS IS HOW YOU
FIX CONGRESS!!!!!*” (unknown author, generated e-mail, 2011)
Debt Talks Now Public Political Drama
Image by SS&SS via Flickr
Obama Sets Stage for 2012
Re-Election
Politicians are back at each others’ throats; pointing
fingers and spewing skewed political rhetoric. It is looking as if the debates
and public butt & baby kissing have begun. President Obama calmly ranted
about the stall tactics of the GOP and Speaker Boehner, making it clear to the
public that the Republicans are not willing to work toward a solution and
Boehner is the problem. However, John Boehner called his own press conference
to tell the American public that the problem was again within the White House;
moreover, Boehner suggests that the communication issue and stall tactics are
the President’s doing –not his. Are these Democrats and Republicans fighting
for their plight and people –or to keep their seat in office? This writer tends
to think the latter.
“I thought it would be useful for me to just give you
some insight into where we were and why I think we should have moved forward
with this big deal” (MSNBC, 2011), says President Obama in a news conference on
July 22, 2011. Obama goes on to make it clear that he is doing everything in
his power to get this Debt Reduction and Deficit Reduction package signed –even
if it meant going against some of his constituents. It is definitely looking a
lot like election time in Washington; the self-serving speeches have already
started. Of course John Boehner could not let such allegations go unanswered,
therefore, he called for his own press conference to rebut. Speaker Boehner
accuses the President of “moving the goal posts”, emphatically stating, “It’s
time to get serious…if the White House won’t get serious, we will” (MSNBC,
2011). From the grand- stand it looks like the Iowa primaries!
Eleven days before the deadline of default, a practical
solution to this stale-mate is still not visible; one party is fighting for the
rich and the other for the poor (big companies vs. entitlements). Republicans
are accusing Democrats of robbing the ‘rich’ to support the poor, where, the
Democrats are accusing the Republicans of trying to ‘push grandma off a cliff’
by cutting Medicare and Medicaid. Obama accuses Boehner of not controlling his caucus
of “ideological freshmen” who are steadfast in their stand against any tax
hike, claiming he has been “left at the altar a couple of times already” –insinuating
if not for that fact the debt problem would be fixed by now. And, of course no
banter would be complete without Nancy Pelosi putting in her two cents worth,
suggesting, “Speaker Boehner’s adult moment is long overdue” (MSNBC, 2011); as
if she has room to speak.
Boehner however, takes the high road when asked if his
relationship with Obama was damaged beyond repair by simply saying, “The disconnect
in the talks with the White House was “not because of different personalities,
but because of different visions for our country” (MSNBC, 2011). Additionally,
he reassured the public and media that this disagreement and Obama’s public reprimand
and blame placing did not affect their relationship whatsoever. Boehner went on
to assure the American people that he was “confident that Congress can act next
week” (MSNBC, 2011). For some reason these words of confidence do not comfort
the underpaid, over-worked, uninsured, taxpaying Americans that can barely feed
their families. Similarly, it does not give comfort to the disabled and
elderly, who sometimes go without food or electric so they can pay for
medication.
The President ordered Speaker Boehner, Nancy Pelosi,
Harry Reid, and Mitch McConnell to be at the White House at 11:00am on Saturday
July 23, 2011 for a Congressional meeting to discuss raising the debt ceiling through
to 2013 (this sets the stage for re-election plans). If these House members and
politicians would work as hard on getting things done as they do blaming
another for it not being done, a lot more would get done. Two hours of potential
Congressional talks time were wasted tonight in this political self-serving
media frenzy; moreover, this political stunt unfortunately shows the American
people and the world that our Government officials do not have the ethics or
capacity to effectively run this country or pay our debts –let alone act like
adults. They are all right in one aspect; the American people want the economy
back on track and are tired of the unscrupulous government spending, in
addition too, the ‘passing the buck’ and political rhetoric. Election 2012 is
just around the corner, now is not the time to be committing tyranny or defaulting
on loans, instead it is time to keep the promises made in the last election and
listen to ‘The People’.
References
MSNBC. (2011, July 22). Boehner pulls out of White House debt talks. Msnbc.com.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/cleanprint/CleanPrintProxy.aspx?unique=1311379004302
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