Will wonders never cease! The New York Times and I agree that a federal government shutdown wouldn't be so bad. Of course our reasons differ a tad -- the Times thinks it should be done to send a message to "reckless" Republicans who are trying to make "devastating" cuts in the federal budget that would "do enormous damage" to many needed programs:
Mr. Biden and the Senate should make it clear to the freshman House members who are really driving their chamber's position that they will not permit reckless cuts this year. Then let the freshmen explain to an angry public why they closed the government's doors to score ideological points.
As Ed Morrisey notes:
In other words, Biden and Reid should refuse to discuss any further cuts, and should shut down the government rather than reduce overall government spending by a grand whopping total of 1.6% and put a minuscule 3.8% dent in a $1.6 trillion deficit. Then when the shutdown occurs, the Times recommends that Biden and Reid let House freshman explain that the Democrats refused to touch 98.4% of federal spending and think that a $1.6 trillion deficit is so good that they're willing to shut down the government to keep it intact.
Yeah, that's a good strategy. Let's see how that works out.
Comments
Shut it down!!!
The $1.8 Trillion deficit for 2011 is not due to Social Security or Medicare, but simply spending too much on general budget items. There are actually three budgets, but congress likes to combine all three into what is called the Unified Budget. In reality and legally speaking the congress and president must sign three separate budgets. They cannot have one single unified budget.
Social Security has a dedicated tax for each of its two programs; Social Security Old Age Survivors Insurance (10.6%) and Social Security Disability (1.8%). SS has legislative authority to spend its dedicated tax revenue and the balance of each of its two trust funds to pay benefits, but NOT A SINGLE PENNY MORE. By law, SS must cut benefits across the board when the trust fund and the dedicated tax revenues are insufficient to pay benefits. This was done in 1984 to keep SS from bankrupting the US.
By law neither SS or Medicare can borrow money and therefore they cannot run deficits.
The General Budget however, can borrow money and this is the sole reason for over $14.2 Trillion National Debt. By shutting down the government, the congress has no authority to borrow any more money. By law the interest is paid first. This keeps the AAA rating of the US intact. Also all US Securities that mature must be paid first. This means Medicaid, Food Stamps, FDA, The Education Department, National Parks, Defense expenditures for planes, bullets, etc will be cut. Will they be cut correctly, most likely not. Without a budget it will be a hit miss thing.
It is time to go cold turkey.
I hav nooooo problem with a shutdown. We are working on a FY2011 constitutionally required budget that was due last year when Democrats held the majority in the House & Senate but couldn't find the time to complete their duties.
Shut it down, you own it Dems.