S&P didn’t just downgrade our debt, they downgraded our entire political system

[kpete]

S&P didn’t just downgrade our debt, they downgraded our entire political system, and it’s hard to argue that they’re wrong in any of their conclusions. The past six weeks of debt ceiling negotiations, as well as earlier incidents such as the near government shutdown we experienced in April, the manner in which the Bush tax cuts were extended in December, the utter rejection of the rather reasonable recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles Commission, and even the 2009 health care reform debate are all examples of the manner in which our political system has become dysfunctional even when it comes to the rather basic legislative duty of budgeting.

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/sp-debt-downgrade-leads-to-same-old-washington-blame-game/

[closeupready]

1. Many here who have observed the antics of Congress over the last 20 years can see why.

We have an elected body that doesn't represent voters, kowtows to special interests who, in turn, give them "campaign donations" and representatives who - for the most part - are millionaires.

[Cool Logic]

4. "We have an elected body that doesn't represent voters..."

Regrettably, many fail to recognize is that our Representatives are much more in touch with one another, than they are with their constituents. They are fooled by grandstanding they watch on TV, for it is pure theatrics, meant to be consumed by rank and file Ds & Rs, who suck it up like sponges.

[originalpckelly]

2. I agree, that's what it was about. S&P isn't being douchey, they said to raise taxes.

I even heard the guy at S&P who is a top analyst stating this same thing.

People are really misinterpreting this. It's really more a critique of the Tea Party and the corporatists who are fucking our budget up.

[Dawson Leery]

5. self delete

[Dawson Leery]

6. .

[warrior1]

3. You need to listen

to Dick Durbin's interview with Jon Stewart from last week. I was getting the impression that the super congress will probably be using a version of the gang of six proposal. Mainly because no one will want the triggers to go into place in 2013. If you think about it, Obama set this in motion over 18 months ago and was ready to have this plan in place when needed. Talk about 11 dimensional chess.

[Dawson Leery]

7. Do you have a link to the interview?

[davsand]

9. I have always respected Durbin, but I thought he did an excellent job with Stewart.

Durbin is one of my Senators, and I have to admit I'm one of his fans right up front. With that in mind, I gotta say that I thought Durbin did an excellent job in that interview with Stewart not just because he came across well, but also because he did an excellent job of pointing out just how uninterested Congress has been in any sort of compromise or actual solutions to the debt issue. Without being strident or preachy he managed to show the bi-partisan nature of the failure. I can only hope that saner heads manage to prevail before 2013.



Laura

[warrior1]

8. it was in three parts

http://www.thedailyshow.com/

[BlueIdaho]

10. Not the entire political system.

S&P downgraded on the willingness of TeaPublicans to actually default on debt to win a political victory. Read the report - it is this likelihood combined with the radical right's absolute refusal to increase revenue that caused the downgrade.