United We Stand is the only political movement I've ever been involved in over the course of my life. et. al.
I think you've mistaken the intent of my credit card example. I'm not arguing against RAISING the debt ceiling. The U.S. must indeed pay its creditors. At this point, it MUST be done. I was responding to Mega's absurd insinuation that we should simply raise the debt ceiling because it's already been done many times in the past, including by Reagan a whole bunch of times. Yes, we have to raise the debt ceiling. Everyone knows it. But to prevent us from being in this position again in the near future WHY NOT TRY TO CONTROL SPENDING? Why is that such an alien concept here, everyone?
And since United We Stand is the only political movement you've been a part of, I would urge you to not pass judgment on that which you clearly lack a true understanding. You said, "The TEA party is, at its core, just a radical off-shoot of the Republican Party." According to whom? That is a complete, uninformed pile of crap spewed by some leftist media type (just let me guess who!). And it only demonstrates my point. If what you say was true, then Boehner would've rammed through his initial debt legislation w/o any problems. But he didn't because the tea party House members, basically, refused to support his plan because more serious cuts are needed to rescue the economy. Raising taxes on those big bad wealth people alone won't accomplish this. Not even close. Want to eliminate tax breaks? Go right ahead, but beware the consequences. Many small businesses tread a thin line between success and failure, and small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy. If these things start closing up shop and more people become unemployed, we're in deeper shit than we are already.
You cite some of the crap that shows up on the news whenever the tea party comes up. Yes the tea party rails against socialism and communism, because some of us believe that's where this country is headed. We DO NOT want to end up like Greece. In 5-10 years, that's very well where we'll be if we stay on this course. There's nothing wrong with pointing out a sign in the road that says "Bridge Out - 1 mile." And just because ONE person (who was black man at the "white" tea party rally) showed up with an (unloaded) assault rifle slung over his shoulder in support of the 2nd Amendment does not brand the ENTIRE movement as crazy. That conclusion/assertion is way beyond reason and way beyond the pale. I can't even believe you went there. Most people at tea party rallies are older folks sitting in lawn chairs with American flags asking the same question: How can we fix this mess we're in?
Instead, we get what's reported in the media: "teabaggers," "crazy," hate-mongers" "scared," "white" and, even worse, "racist." This board provides a great example of what I'm talking about. Look at the posters here who single out the tea party as a "white" movement. No one here is clearly a member of a tea party branch, yet you're all somehow experts on what it's all about. Go to a meeting. Go to a rally. See for yourself. These people aren't "scared" in the way the media reports it. They're certainly NOT fucking racist. They are patriotic Americans, many of whom are politically active for the first time in their lives (me included) who feel that fiscal conservatives don't have any say in what's happening around us. The tea party is not, as many of you seem to believe, some radical, anti-democratic, white supremist group. Considering that we have blacks and hispanics in my group would definitely refute all that B.S. All we want to do is curb an ever-growing, massive government bureauracy that feeds on itself into oblivion. It grows. It needs more money. It gets it. It grows bigger. Now it needs more money. It gets it. It grows even bigger, etc., etc.
Raise the debt ceiling this one last time. Period. Then pass a balanced budget amendment. The country has added $5 trillion in debt in the last 2 1/2 years. Where has all that money been spent? Bank/auto bail-outs, stimulus, health care. Villify the oil industry and fat-cat Wall Street types and target them for tax hikes all you want, but then you let GE, Obama's best supporter, walk away with $14 billion in revenue UNTAXED?
Repeal that albatross of a health care bill first. Put the states on a payment plan to pay back the stimulus. Recoup every last cent of the bailouts. The alternative to this or to the raising of the debt ceiling would be to gut the entitlement programs (i.e. social security, medicare). No one wishes that. So compromise. Raise the debt ceiling, cut spending NOW and drastically -- no matter how much it hurts -- pay our creditors to keep our AAA rating, and make it the law of the land that the federal budget must be balanced. We do it in our own households. Our businesses do it. Some states even do it. The clods in D.C. must do the same or it's game over.
But what do people like me know. I wouldn't want to be unreasonable now.
I read and re-read your post. It's ranting gibberish. About the only thing I can make out is this: You were being unreasonable.
I think the Tea Party is primarily "run" by some scarred white people that are misinformed.
However, she was talking about a message of smaller government. That in and of itself appeals to me.
Ouch, man! Scared, no. But I am worried about were things are headed. White? Yes, I am. Misinformed. From some people's point of view, apparently. But they're dead wrong.
Oh, so you knew the main reason why exercising leadership in this particular case is near impossible is because a good degree of GOPers at the prodding of tea bagger 'tards have signed up to take off the table the key point of contention. Okay. Wise man...:yesyes::hatsoff:
1.) The economy is cyclical. Concluding it was stronger at some point in the past than it will ever be...is, well let's just say amazingly prophetic. Do you have the numbers for next Tuesday's powerball too by any chance?:angels:
All I can say, Mega, is the only 'tard around here is you. Your post was such a bunch of nonsensical spin and double-talk, I was left rather speechless. Yeah the economy is cyclical, but what we're experiencing is this country right now, TODAY, is NOT part of that fucking cycle. I feel so very sorry that you are this deluded and blind. But don't worry, Gilligan, when we turn into Greece and people are rioting for their government handouts, you can go right ahead post a nice apology to me on this forum. OK, little buddy?
I'm not much of a Bill Maher fan, but he said something the other day that I totally agree with: "we have a Republican party with no brains and a Democrat party with no balls." And that, ladies & germs, pretty much sums up our political system right now. Eunuchs and morons are running the castle! :nanner:
Bill Maher? Well, that speaks for itself?
It's frustrating because your point of view is analogous to arguing that the world is flat when I know for a FACT that it's not. I really, really don't desire to keep getting down in the muck with you. But you obviously are thoroughly enjoying it. :stir:
We as a nation will be spending more and more of our GDP over time just to pay interest to our creditors and keep Social Security and Medicare afloat and solvent. This is why it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible considering the culture in D.C., to ever get back to 30%. 
