When to shut down...

"The only problem with the government 'shutting down' is so few people will notice..."

This might come as a surprise to some. But here we go. I think shutting down the government over raising the debt ceiling is a waste of time. And there are reasons for that statement. That being said, having the government shut down because the House (yes, I will lay this on the front porch of the House), could not have budgets ready long before the end of the fiscal year, might be necessary. But if it does shut down, the House Republicans will have to get ready to accept the blame.

First let me address the debt ceiling issue. It took me a while on this one, but I have come around. Raising the debt ceiling allows us to pay for things (or borrow to pay for them) that have already been authorized. People that say the good faith and honor of this country are at stake when we pay (or borrow to pay) our debt. I agree. We elect people to appropriate money. If they appropriate too much, it is on us then to ensure our debts and bills are paid. It is like when your teenager takes your credit card and charges too much. You are responsible for your kid's actions.

However, we should not be put in a position to always having to raise our debt ceiling. Period. Every time we spend money we don't have, money which is not budgeted, we "put stuff on the card". It then becomes an obligation for us (as a nation) to assume. So to go through this stork dance every time we come bumping up against the debt ceiling is futile. If we don't want to go through this anymore, we should not overspend.

Now here we are on September 29th, and I can smell something brewing which is not the coffee in the kitchen. It is a stop gap measure. It will keep the government running and the lights on. For how long? Maybe 60 days or so. Then there will be another. And another. Until everyone gets tired of it and decides to just do another continuing resolution. And what gets solved? Nothing. All the President's pet rocks keep getting funded. The debt keeps going up. And we come one step closer to becoming Greece.

I saw an article recently that Planned Parenthood is now more popular that the GOP. If that headline did not say it all. How could an organization, who has been caught red handed doing to most heinous acts to the unborn, possibly be more popular than the political party who is trying to defund them? Why? Because the GOP is looked upon by many citizens as loads. This is not the party of 1994. The party who came up with the Contract for America. Back then, the GOP ran on that contract, and then once in office, they honored that contract.

So now that the GOP is getting a new Speaker, let me help just a bit on how not to be so unpopular with the masses:

• Your primary job is the purse. Do a budget. Live to the budget. Have the budget done in plenty of time. Be prepared to defend your budget if there is push back from the Senate or the President. If the budget dies in either the Senate or the Executive Branch, you will have at least done your job in submitting one. And by the way, the budget could or should be done in multiple segments rather than one ugly lump.
• When you run for office by saying you will eliminate the IRS, repeal or reform ObamaCare, or whatever - make sure once in office you continue on with that quest. Words and action must become one. Tell the people, show the people in your home district that you are a person of principle. That you are tirelessly carrying their concerns forward. That is why they elected you.
• In the House of Representatives, every taxpayer dollar must be looked upon like it was your own money. It is not "funny money", it is our money. The reason we have an $18 trillion dollar debt right now is just for that reason. And by the way - at some time this massive debt will come due. I have yet to hear any plan from anyone on how this will be handled.
• Quit blaming everyone else for the mess. Both sides have spent and continue to spend recklessly. Once you get to Washington, you are Washington. You are part of the problem, so go fix yourself.

Well, that is it in a nutshell. I am now going to sit back and watch the next chapter of Washington entropy unfold in front of my eyes. Mr. Smith - where are you when we need you?