There is some seriously screwed up thinking over there to our right, though why I’m surprised I can’t say.
Greg Sargent looks at the poll numbers on raising the debt ceiling in his Post column.
* Republicans are far more likely to oppose raising the debt limit than anyone else; they say don’t raise it by 61-25. By contrast, Dems say raise it by 62-31, and independents split by 48-46 on raising versus not raising it.
* Republicans, however, also believe overwhelmingly that not raising it would cause serious economic harm — by 66-27. (Dems and indys tilt the same way.)
* How to square that? Simple: Among Republicans who believe not raising it would cause serious economic harm, a majority say don’t raise it by 53-32.
By contrast, among Americans overall who say not raising it would cause serious harm, they tilt in favor of raising it by 54-35. Independents who say not raising it would cause serious harm also tilt in favor of raising it by 58-36.
And there it is: Republicans want Congress not to raise the debt ceiling, even if it would cause widespread economic harm. …Sargent,WaPo
Which is amazingly crazy or just unashamedly cruel and irresponsible. Or both. Plus pathological.
Rather than try to get my head around someone else’s mania, I think maybe it’s better to look for practical responses, practical solutions.
Here’s a good one from a practical commenter named James44:
If the Tea Party wants a default, here’s what to do: Cut all federal money – every single cent – to the districts of members of Congress who vote against raising the debt ceiling. That means closing their military bases and moving them, no FDIC if their banks fail, no FEMA aid if there’s a natural disaster – zilch. They’ll also have to pay an extra tax to help pay down the national debt on top of their regular taxes.
Is it cruel? Absolutely. But if they want to ruin the country, it’s they who should suffer the consequences. The block in federal money will only be lifted when they demonstrate that they’ve learned the error of their ways in the next election.
An alternative plan will be to let the South secede and encourage Tea Party followers to move down there so that we can finally be rid of them.
One well-known Republican says that the response to the Republican plan would be suicidal.
“While conscientious FBI and Border Patrol agents, prison guards, air-traffic controllers and other federal employees may keep showing up for work, they won’t get paychecks, just IOUs.
“Going down that road would strengthen the president while alienating independents. It is an ill-conceived tactic, and Republicans should reject it…”
Who said that? Guess:
Karl Rove