"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure.
It is a sign that the U.
S.
Government can't pay its own bills.
It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies...
Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally.
Leadership means that "the buck stops here.
" Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.
America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.
Americans deserve better.
" - Then Senator Obama in a March 2006 speech.
My, my, how populist President Obama was in 2006.
Mr.
Obama spoke the truth as a Senator.
But his failed leadership and a failure of the American people to watch over our politicians have resulted in a number of financial bungling maneuvers that have intertwined the debt ceiling and funding of the federal government.
According to some, an absolute failure to address these issues has now led to impending doom.
The political chattering classes are foaming at the mouth.
A federal shutdown is looming! The sky is falling they exclaim! Hyperbole is Washington D.
C.
's favorite game.
Make the most drastic and absurd comment and get noticed by social media and the other channels.
But a look at the facts might surprise people and allow for much calmer heads to prevail.
How did we get here? Well, that depends on whom you ask.
Republicans blame the Democrats who turn around and blame Republicans.
Some point fingers at the President while he quickly takes aim at Congressional Republicans.
Who is really to blame? Government and ultimately, the American people are the true culprits.
For decades, Americans have elected officials to the highest offices who have proclaimed their intention to run an orderly fiscal budget but then do things to destroy sound financial planning.
For example, defense posturing after the September 11th attacks led the federal government to dramatically increase yearly deficits and the overall debt.
A weak economy and a failure to tighten the purse strings under the Obama Administration and the Democrats has blown a hole in our national debt, which is at a staggering 17 trillion dollars and growing.
Our leaders have failed the American people.
But that does not mean that Americans don't shoulder the blame.
If Americans would understand the basic underpinnings of solid government planning, we would not be in this predicament.
Any politician who ran on a platform of increased spending would never get anywhere near the levers of power.
But we have allowed big businesses and a myriad of interest groups to hijack our national sovereignty and sound fiscal policy.
Whether it is the healthcare industry, military, or national unions, these groups have a vested interest the gargantuan growth of the federal government.
And who suffers? The middle class American receives the brunt of this pain, as incomes have fallen in the past years from a stagnant economy due to failed government interventionist policies.
And so, should we fear a government shutdown? I would say no.
First of all, if a budget agreement is not reached, the entire national apparatus will not be in jeopardy.
Non-essential personnel will be furloughed but not fired.
The military will still function and be able to protect the nation (although one can argue that the military is doing more protecting the world than American interests).
But what will happen? Well, national attention will be brought on the sad fact: that our politicians have failed us and that we should replace them.
As Americans, we should insist that all elected officials have three priorities: defend the Constitution, pass a responsible budget before any new laws/taxation/programs, and actively protect the individual liberties of its constituents.
Anything less is a failure of true American political leadership and a lack of responsibility by the citizen.
For America to properly function, Americans must understand that we have a civic responsibility to know who we are electing and understand our system of government.
Failure to do will continue to result in budgeting by crisis and a shackling of our economic growth.
Government is inhibiting our economic freedom.
It is time that we took the reigns of power back from the irresponsible by becoming responsible ourselves.
It is a sign that the U.
S.
Government can't pay its own bills.
It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government's reckless fiscal policies...
Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally.
Leadership means that "the buck stops here.
" Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren.
America has a debt problem and a failure of leadership.
Americans deserve better.
" - Then Senator Obama in a March 2006 speech.
My, my, how populist President Obama was in 2006.
Mr.
Obama spoke the truth as a Senator.
But his failed leadership and a failure of the American people to watch over our politicians have resulted in a number of financial bungling maneuvers that have intertwined the debt ceiling and funding of the federal government.
According to some, an absolute failure to address these issues has now led to impending doom.
The political chattering classes are foaming at the mouth.
A federal shutdown is looming! The sky is falling they exclaim! Hyperbole is Washington D.
C.
's favorite game.
Make the most drastic and absurd comment and get noticed by social media and the other channels.
But a look at the facts might surprise people and allow for much calmer heads to prevail.
How did we get here? Well, that depends on whom you ask.
Republicans blame the Democrats who turn around and blame Republicans.
Some point fingers at the President while he quickly takes aim at Congressional Republicans.
Who is really to blame? Government and ultimately, the American people are the true culprits.
For decades, Americans have elected officials to the highest offices who have proclaimed their intention to run an orderly fiscal budget but then do things to destroy sound financial planning.
For example, defense posturing after the September 11th attacks led the federal government to dramatically increase yearly deficits and the overall debt.
A weak economy and a failure to tighten the purse strings under the Obama Administration and the Democrats has blown a hole in our national debt, which is at a staggering 17 trillion dollars and growing.
Our leaders have failed the American people.
But that does not mean that Americans don't shoulder the blame.
If Americans would understand the basic underpinnings of solid government planning, we would not be in this predicament.
Any politician who ran on a platform of increased spending would never get anywhere near the levers of power.
But we have allowed big businesses and a myriad of interest groups to hijack our national sovereignty and sound fiscal policy.
Whether it is the healthcare industry, military, or national unions, these groups have a vested interest the gargantuan growth of the federal government.
And who suffers? The middle class American receives the brunt of this pain, as incomes have fallen in the past years from a stagnant economy due to failed government interventionist policies.
And so, should we fear a government shutdown? I would say no.
First of all, if a budget agreement is not reached, the entire national apparatus will not be in jeopardy.
Non-essential personnel will be furloughed but not fired.
The military will still function and be able to protect the nation (although one can argue that the military is doing more protecting the world than American interests).
But what will happen? Well, national attention will be brought on the sad fact: that our politicians have failed us and that we should replace them.
As Americans, we should insist that all elected officials have three priorities: defend the Constitution, pass a responsible budget before any new laws/taxation/programs, and actively protect the individual liberties of its constituents.
Anything less is a failure of true American political leadership and a lack of responsibility by the citizen.
For America to properly function, Americans must understand that we have a civic responsibility to know who we are electing and understand our system of government.
Failure to do will continue to result in budgeting by crisis and a shackling of our economic growth.
Government is inhibiting our economic freedom.
It is time that we took the reigns of power back from the irresponsible by becoming responsible ourselves.