Kindly Note the Impending Bankruptcy (Mark Steyn)

National Review Online ^ | November 30, 2012 | Mark Steyn

[neverdem]

Previously on The Perils of Pauline:

Last year, our plucky heroine, the wholesome apple-cheeked American republic, was trapped in an express elevator hurtling out of control toward the debt ceiling. Would she crash into it? Or would she make some miraculous escape?

Yes! At the very last minute of her white-knuckle thrill ride to her rendezvous with destiny, she was rescued by Congress’s decision to set up . . . a Super Committee! Those who can, do. Those who can’t, form a committee. Those who really can’t, form a Super Committee — and then put John Kerry on it for good measure.

--snip--

But that fundamental dishonesty is the heart of the crisis. You cannot simultaneously enjoy American-sized taxes and European-sized government. One or the other has to go.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Nobody can predict what form of govt (or none) will emerge a generation past the crash.

In fact if you look at just recent history, DICTATORSHIPS worse than the current systems fill the power vacuum.

[Travis McGee]

Dictatorships cover a lot of ground. Franco or Pinochet is one thing, Pol Pot or Stalin is another. And a few years or even decades of civil war could leave the population totally decimated.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Bohner is playing a losing hand in this. Not only over tax cuts but now Geithner and Obama have told Bohner (on TV of course) to make public their entitlement cut proposals, if that is what they are demanding. And Republicans are scared to do that for obvious reasons. So once again they go into the gun fight with a twig in hand.

Here is what I would do. And if BOEHNER's office is looking at posts with his name in them, I hope they read this one. Take current Ill-Informed "Logic" into account for his next steps:

1) The standard Democrat line of attack no matter who wins ANY elections is that the "Republicans got us into this mess". With this as the line of attack, there are only two options - FIGHT or CAVE. So DON'T CAVE! FIGHT!

2) The next opportunity for the Democrats to gain seats is in two years. So, for two years, I would continue to say NO MORE DEBT INCREASE! And then I would give my reasons why. As you said, stay consistent. "Our problem is not a REVENUE thing, it is that every time Congress is given MORE REVENUE they MIS-SPEND!"

3) The second reason why I would NOT budge on increasing the debt ceiling is because the attention span of the Ill-Informed Voter is so small that nobody will even remember this Fiscal Cliff, even if the outcomes are awful. Besides, go back to #1 as the Republicans will get blamed no matter what.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”3) The second reason why I would NOT budge on increasing the debt ceiling is because the attention span of the Ill-Informed Voter is so small that nobody will even remember this Fiscal Cliff, even if the outcomes are awful. Besides, go back to #1 as the Republicans will get blamed no matter what. “

but you know they will raise it after taking another stand on it. You must know that.

The only question is if they will actually get something for it, or once again get nothing and claim a victory on it, then complain that the same bill they passed is actually bad not good, as with the Budget control Act.

What makes you think that Bohner and CO will do any better than before? (you may not actually believe this, if not assume it was for the reader.)

[Eagle of Liberty]

Dictatorships cover a lot of ground. Franco or Pinochet is one thing, Pol Pot or Stalin is another.

Hmmmm.....perhaps a Pinochet solution WOULD be a better outcome to a CW2?

[sickoflibs]

RE :” The standard Democrat line of attack no matter who wins ANY elections is that the “Republicans got us into this mess”. With this as the line of attack, there are only two options - FIGHT or CAVE. So DON'T CAVE! FIGHT! “

Actually there are three options not two:

Option 1) Cave and the R party self destructs, Dems win-win. Then Dems move in to bayonette the R party wounded survivers.

Option 2) Take a stand and lose, and then cave (so far this is their favorite option as they do it every time), and then R party still self destructs, Dems win-win.

Option 3) (My favorite) Take a stand and actually beat Obama, then the R party unites as winners and Obama loses and his D party starts shooting each other and self destructs. Then Rs move in to bayonette the D party wounded survivers.

DA-DA!

[Eagle of Liberty]

What makes you think that Bohner and CO will do any better than before? (you may not actually believe this, if not assume it was for the reader.)

You are correct. I am under no belief that Boehner will do any better, probably will do worse. I am also under no illusion that we live in a "Two-Party" Federal system.

[DoughtyOne]

I vote for Da-Daaaaa.

[Eagle of Liberty]

Yes, but:

Option 1 = CAVE

Option 2 = CAVE

Option 3 = FIGHT

so, yes, in Option 2, the GOP may take one stand before the eventual cave, but both 1 and 2 lead to the same result.

My current line of thinking is that A) The GOP were in the minority in the House for 40 years for a reason, B) The current make-up of the GOP is either in collusion or incompetent, C) I am leaning heavily toward collusion.

[GOPJ]

Option 4

Democrats will destroy the country - we can stop them... it’s time to rethink... Dems are selfish short term thinkers - looters at heart. Let’s offer to buy our way out. We give them almost everything - then split the country into red and blue - and form our own country..

Dems can open the floodgates to every third world country - give everything away - you know - free this - free that - the usual.But it will be their money - not ours... We’ll have our own country and we can start over... Let’s give them whatever it takes to get the hell out of here.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”My current line of thinking is that .....
B) The current make-up of the GOP is either in collusion or incompetent, C) I am leaning heavily toward collusion.”

Its a combination of the two. I been documenting details of both here for two years.

When I say ‘take a stand, then lose and then cave’ exhibit A is the FICA standoff a year ago.
That attempt was so ill-conceived and so ill-executed that even the House members who demanded that fight told Bohner that it was time to give it up. No one in the House wanted to hold out.

Then early this year they passed the final one year FICA cut extension in the House (whatever Reid demanded) out of view. Classic ‘trap yourself’

Losing is losing, winning is winning. That is my ultimate classification.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Let’s offer to buy our way out. We give them almost everything - then split the country into red and blue - and form our own country..
Dems can open the floodgates to every third world country - give everything away - you know - free this - free that - the usual.But it will be their money - not ours... We’ll have our own country and we can start over... Let’s give them whatever it takes to get the hell out of here.”

Why would they agree to let the red states separate from blue when they can impose taxes and Obama-care on them now?
You would trust a deal with them? (I know you wouldnt)

The most loyal base of the R party is +50 over white vote.

Would the ‘United red states of America’ make sure they get their medicare and social security as Ryan promised them?
Would that come from taxes?