Our Government Is So Broken.

[cali]

Is there a viable solution?? Doesn't look that way. Sure, we can talk about how kicking these unbelievably ignorant teafucks out would help, but with the way the map is gerrymandered in so many places, that's unlikely. More dems would be better, but both parties are prey to big money and that may just get worse should the SCOTUS rule that aggregate limits on campaign donations are unconstitutional.

We are where we are after decades of deregulation and polarized, cynical politics a la Koch brothers.

I know it's practically verboten to say so, but I see more cuts to the social safety network barreling down the pike. It may come before there's a CR and debt ceiling raise or it may come after it, but it's naive as hell to think it's not coming.

I wish I saw an ending to this crisis that wasn't deleterious to the middle class and the poor.

[cantbeserious]

1. The Empire Is Dying

eom

[snappyturtle]

2. I'm beginning to doubt that there is a viable solution.

This morning I spent a little time listening to Morning Joe and CSpan.
The ignorance about what is little more than a procedural issue (debt
celing) was breathtaking. The dumbing down has occurred.

I hope the President holds his ground even if it means default...which
is a horrible scenario. However, once and for all (I hope) the repubs
would be exposed for the obstructionists they are. Of course that
conclusion would only be realized by those paying attention. Seems
fairly hopeless. imho

[Junkdrawer]

3. No Mon, No Fun, Your Son.....

The Wealthy don't pay taxes, they buy politicians. Lately, you can find them in the $5 Quick Sale bin.

The Middle Class (who did pay taxes) died when industry was exported.

[bullwinkle428]

4. Dennis Hastert blames McCain-Feingold for the current situation.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/10/08/230256554/hastert-primary-challenges-making-congress-kind-of-neurotic

Talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees!

And YES, the writing is clearly on the wall for "entitlement reform", based on some of the rumblings from certain Senate Democrats.

[CrispyQ]

5. We need Revenue Reform, not entitlement reform.

We have avenues of revenue that we will not touch, taxes on the rich, taxes on the corporations, taxes on investment income. They have successfully convinced Americans that if we tax the rich & the corporations, jobs will disappear & prices will go up. Seems to me, that's been happening anyway.

[Myrina]

6. I could think of a couple solutions but it would get me a visit from Agent Mike ...

None is better than one that's broke, IMHO.
Or regional governments, since 50 individual little countries would be a massive pain in the ass a la EU but on a bigger (and yet smaller) scale and 'liberal states' and 'TeaBag' states seem to group together geographically ....

[Enthusiast]

7. They want it broken, cali........nt

[BKH70041]

8. Apathy is going to be the issue

There's a whole segment of the population who many here don't like, but they are still part of the whole fabric of the country, and collectively they hold a much larger percentage of the total wealth of the country than they represent in percent of numbers. If they feel as though they are not being heard, that their concerns are not being addressed (which it seems as though they do), then it's just a matter of time until they give up trying to be heard. Many might say "Good," but it won't be. They are resourceful and will find ways to isolate their contributions (No, I'm not getting into a libertarian theme here, I hate libertarians). There's always ways to do that. Get to a point where that many people simply don't care anymore, or even if they care a little less, and stick a fork in it, the USA is done.

The days of "Let's debate, hold a vote, the majority opinion rules, and now we drop it and all join together with the majority" is over. It's been over for a long time now; it's just coming more to a head now.

And it's not coming back.