My Tin Foil Hat

They want to default. You know that, right? 

Between the House pre-shutdown rules change that created a microscopically narrow path to a Continuing Resolution and the belief, lingering in the shadows, that an economic or democratic meltdown would hasten the end of Obama's presidency, there is evidence that this was the path all along.

Rational minds want to believe that 10% of the population can't drive the bus off the cliff for us. But they can. And they want to. We think they will veer away at the last minute. Or that someone will grab the wheel or the keys. 

Mint the coin. File the discharge petition. Invoke the amendment. Put the Senate in charge.

The House will have none of it. If they aren't getting re-elected, then no one else is.

I am assembling my tin foil hat, hoarding canned goods, and hiding cash.

You think I'm kidding.

http://nyti.ms/17q0gJM

NYTimes: For Many Hard-Liners, Debt Default Is the Goal

This is Logic

This is so important, we need to do something huge like shut down the government. Except we don't really need government. Except these parts over here. Like the gym. And maybe ourselves.

This is so important, we need to default on the debt.  Except defaulting wouldn't be that bad. And we can delay it for days by "prioritizing." 

This program is so bad we need to kill it. Except for how it will die on it's own.  Because no one wants it. Because it's badly run because so many people are trying to get in.

We need to balance this budget. By cutting spending. By keeping people at home and paying them. And paying extra to turn things off. And pay more extra to turn them back on.

We need to cut these benefits. But we need you to do it. Because the people that voted for us to cut these benefits won't vote for us when they don't get their benefits.

Government is Not Like a Trip to Costco

"Hey Honey, I'm headed to Costco.  Need anything?"

""Uh.  Yeah.  I think there's a tropical storm headed our way.  I'd really like a few updates from NOAA and a big box of FEMA just in case.  Poor Susan.  Her daughter has a rare medical condition, so I thought maybe we could grab her a big bottle of NIH.  Grandpa is headed up to DC on an honor flight and I thought we could grab him a couple of war memorials.  I think they are next to the suitcases with wheels."

"Everyone has been raving about the Capitol Police, but heck, we don't even live there so I'm not sure who they sell that to. I have a coupon for 72% off the Intelligence Community but I'm just afraid we'd get one and never use it."

"Those people that get their Head Start supplies together so early in the season are a special breed. I just do not have the patience to wait 17 years to see the results of something.  Of course, it's the end of the month, so stay out of the Social Security aisle.  The Wilson's really need to get their DOT fixed.  They think they can get it cheaper overseas, but you always pay more in the end."

"Also, do NOT get any USDA.  I don't think they've checked that in a while.  In fact, I don't think there will be any fresh SNAP or WIC at all."

"I'll just head over to Sam's for that."

The Day After: Is This Thing On?

Hello.

Hello.

Is this thing on?  Can you hear me?

On Tuesday I got real mad about the government.  Things that I usually mumble at the internet or the radio came spilling out all over Facebook.  I try to keep my Facebook G-rated and middle-of-the-road when it comes to politics.  I follow (and never "un-friend") some pretty conservative people.  I'm open-minded and I like to hear what people think and even try their opinions on.  It's a form of respect for diversity.  It's a way to learn.  It inspires questioning of my own political dogma.  And it's a way to stay out of the echo chamber.

Clearly, with a few exceptions, I was preaching to the choir and will most likely continue to do so, if I'm fortunate enough to pick up a few blog followers.

I like government.  Of course there are anecdotal horror stories of waste, fraud, and abuse.  Systems to control them are complex and cumbersome.  But I like roads and schools and public transportation and clean water and people who are smarter than me keeping an eye on people who are greedier than me and people who are smarter than me keeping an eye on people who want to create giant fireballs of destruction and people who are braver than me making sure the fireball-creators don't get out of hand.

Is it just me?  I don't think so.

Over 61,000,000 people voted for President Obama in 2012 (more than 50%; which in presidential politics, is not all that common).  In contrast, about 4.5 million people voted for Ted Cruz, and that is statewide in the second largest state in the union.  I'm thinking at least a few of those 4.5 million are not so thrilled right now.

Political Post #10 - Next week’s congressional Cat Toy

So you thought this shutdown thing was bad? (Update: four FB friends and counting currently not getting paid). Wait until the debt ceiling in two weeks. Then the sh*t will really hit the fan. I highly (and truly) recommend heading to the ATM next week and getting out a pile of greenback dollar bills if we go down this path again with the debt ceiling.

It seems so virtual, but when Treasury Bills (government debt) are no longer what we say they are, then the definition of money itself becomes a debatable topic. Something close to this happened in 2008 (or happened so quickly you only noticed the five-year recession and not the 5-day freeze up inside the system). The hero at the time was the Treasury Department. This time, they will be the villain, and there will be no hero (unless maybe you are into bitcoin).

In 2008, your ATM, credit card, and bank account were perilously close to being non-functional nor accessible to you (your money – the stuff that you use for groceries and gas). This is not some vague concept about eventual interest rate hikes, or increased unemployment, or prioritizing payments. This is messing with the fundamental definition of the most liquid asset in the world economy.

This is next week’s congressional Cat Toy.

Political Post #9 - Jon Stewart is Funnier than me.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-september-30-2013/jon-stewart-s-rockin--shutdown-eve

Political Post #8 - Son of Earnest Taxpayer

I support the ACA. Health insurance and health care economics are complicated. I have a good plan and I pay for it. Before ACA was a glimmer, my older son was diagnosed with a serious chronic but manageable medical condition. A financial counselor told me, with the 14 y-o in the room, that his only chance for continued care would be for his family to financially abandon him at 18 so he could be declared disabled and poor and qualify for Medicaid. A guidance counselor told me, with the 14 y-o in the room, that he would have to follow a career path that guaranteed he would be offered an employer-based plan immediately upon college graduation.

Sure that’s DEPRESSING. It’s also STUPID. The son is now 21 and has SO MUCH to offer this economy. And that’s what this is: An ECONOMIC issue. It would be more expensive for the TAXPAYER for him to be un-covered, covered by Medicaid, abandoned financially by his family, or relying on state-funded crisis care at emergency rooms.

TODAY, the ACA makes him a healthy, hard-working, independent, TAXPAYING, economic engine whose care is dramatically less expensive for everyone because it is well-managed.

Political Post #7 - This is Why You Vote

So THIS is why you vote. And specifically THIS is why you vote TODAY for Marlon Kimpson in SC Senate race 42:

Sure SC is conservative and has a strong tea party faction. But when re-districting was done by the SC legislature after the 2010 Census* (see note below), voices on the outer ends of both parties were consolidated into less-moderate, less-representative districts and those voices are now amplified beyond their representative weight. State legislatures everywhere were the crucible of today's Federal shutdown.

YOUR VOTE DOES MATTER. VOTE TODAY.

(note: Ironically, I was unable to confirm the last census year because many Federal web sites are off line due to the shutdown)

Political Post #6 - Let the Unfollowing Begin

If you live in SC CD-1 and you voted for Mark Sanford (or did not vote at all), then you asked for this government shutdown.

Mark Sanford supports the government shutdown. He should also know better. He was there in 1995 and it didn't work then. The US economy was in a boom cycle and even then it was felt.

Political Post #5 - Hugh has a Tantrum

When Hugh Hollinger doesn't want to go to bed, or get in the bath tub, or eat his dinner (all inevitable), he suggests we DELAY the event. He might even REFUSE to do something else (like pick up toys). He might even throw a TANTRUM (although even Hugh hasn't thrown a 21-hour tantrum). His friends and colleagues (also in the 4-6 age range) would completely support him in his TOUGH STANCE against the tyranny of a good nights rest, broccoli, and a clean butt. He, of course, would tell you that EVERYONE agrees with him. When in fact, he is living in an echo chamber of five-year-olds and the vast (mostly silent) majority support bed time, fruits & veggies, and bath time.

But bed time, fruits & veggies, and bath time are not only necessary, they are also the LAW OF THE LAND.

Political Post #4 - Call Mark Sanford

I just called Mark Sanford's constituent office in Mt. Pleasant. I told them I wanted "congress to pass a clean CR and end the government shutdown."

Please call and share your thoughts: 843-352-7572.

Political Post #3 - Enough Already

Political Post #3 (because #1 and #2 came last night). This country needs a jobs bill. We need to stabilize our economy (not destabilize it). We need a highway and infrastructure bill. We need a confirmed Treasury Secretary. We need a AAA bond rating.

What we don't need is a self-inflicted wound to our economy. And we certainly don't need it over the ACA. The ACA was ALREADY a compromise, built on a private insurance model created by the Heritage Foundation, implemented by Mitt Romney, and succeeding in Massachusetts.

There is a political process for improving and correcting legislation. This is not it.

Currently, there are a MAJORITY of House members (Dems and moderate Repubs) who would pass a clean CR which would immediately pass the Senate and immediately get signed by the President and end the shutdown. There is a small group within the Republican Party holding hostage two chambers, the executive branch, 800,000 federal employees, and the entire US and world economies.

Enough already.

Political Day

Dear Friends....Today is going to be political day. I encourage you to un-follow me if it becomes too much. Normally my posts are kittens and beaches and children saying the darnedest things. Today is different.

Real People Are Not Getting Paid

Already this morning I've learned of two friends who are on unpaid furlough because of the government shutdown. Yesterday I heard certain congress members saying no one would feel it or notice. They are oblivious and wrong.

Countdown to Shutdown

WTF?? The House just passed ANOTHER bill to delay implementing the ACA? Doing the same thing over and over (like 46 times now) and expecting a different result. In the real world, I would be fired for this level of failure.