Debt Ceilngs, Democrats and Courage

Usually my editor want us bloggers to talk about local issues, but this national issue concerning the Debt Ceiling is so important and it does have a major impact on our area. 

The Republicans, now completely controlled by the radical tea partiers, were willing to let our country go into default instead of compromise. . 

Some say the Democratic Party displayed weakness in backing down from the Republican demands. It was not weakness. It took courage to compromise. This was done to protect our middle class, the elderly, the ill, our returning veterans, and others in order for the greatest nation to continue being great both here and in the rest of the country.

Decisions on holding the line and not compromising should be left to the American people at the ballot box — not dangling the future of our economic prosperity over a ledge.  A default would have had disastrous economic effects right here in Summerville and Dorchester County — plunging us back into a recession.  Skyrocketing interest rates, no payments for social security and Medicaid, shutdown of SPAWAR, etc. Is that what the tea party wanted? 

Did Rep. Tim Scott even care? Evidently not!

I hope that all the voters remember and hold Scott and Sen. Jim DeMint accountable for their votes in their next elections. 

Democrats like me support a government by the people and for the people — supporting critical programs like Defense, Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, smart growth, and jobs.  The Democrats believe in a balanced budget, but not reducing the deficit entirely on the backs of the middle class and poor which is what happened with this Republican debt ceiling agreement.

Even Ronald Reagan, who raised the debt ceiling 18 times, agreed to raise taxes on the wealthy as a balanced approach to deficit reduction! 

Let’s lower the national budget in a balanced way: cut Defense waste, cut corporate welfare, cut business subsidies that send jobs overseas, stop the tax cuts for the rich. And we must add revenue, including eliminating the Bush tax reductions for the wealthy.

Yes, we must tackle the Medicare program.  Something is very wrong with this system.  I recently had a kidney stone – went to the hospital – 2 ½ hours –  they did a  cat scan and gave me some pain medicine, then sent me home to pass the stone – or more like a peppercorn!  I got the bill last week - $7600!! Tricare paid $660, and the hospital accepted (along with my $30 copay). Can you explain that?

And on the home front,  let’s balance our state budget by tackling the $2 billion worth of tax loopholes instead of on the backs of our public schools and Medicaid recipients!

Did anybody want to have the Country go into default?  I cannot believe anybody would allow that — but Scott did.  Let’s hear your opinions concerning Scott’s dangerous position. I am hopeful voters will remember this on Nov. 6, 2012.