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Government Might Default If Debt Ceiling Isn't Raised.
Essentially, we've spent our way into a tremendous sinkhole of debt by pursuing this endless "war on terror", and the government is about to default on its bills unless they get an influx of cash or raise the debt ceiling. The Democrats want to raise taxes on the wealthiest one percent to make up the shortfall, and the Republicans are digging in their heels. They've been stink-eyeing Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security for years, but they've always been considered sacred cows because so many voters are old folks on Medicare and SS, and both sides know what would happen if they were threatened.
Well, last week, the President announced that cuts to these entitlements were on the table because if the country doesn't save money and raise the debt ceiling by August 2nd, it would be officially in default and unable to pay its debts. If that happened, then SS benefits would not go out, presumably because the government either wouldn't have the money, or because its available funds were diverted to the war effort.
So, it's like this:
Government Accountant: Oh, NOES! We're running out of monies.
President: Since you won't let me end the war, I'mma need some money from you rich people.
Rep: OMG, HDU! You can't expect hard-working Americans to support the poor. ~flamewar~
Dem: Goddammit, you can't expect the poor and middle-class to subsidize everything while you eat caviar.
President~facepalm~: All right, but we really need money or everyone is screwed, so I'm putting SS, Medicare, and Medicaid up for cuts.
Dems: HDU! FLAMES! FLAMES on the sides of our faces! Are you trying to get booted out of office?
Reps: Yeehaw! Finally, we can flush these leeches!
Dems: Fuck you, Reps! Fuck you, Mr. President!
Poor people: What about us? How are we supposed to eat?
President: We all have to make sacrifices, LOLZ!
Poor people: >:X
Essentially, we've spent our way into a tremendous sinkhole of debt by pursuing this endless "war on terror", and the government is about to default on its bills unless they get an influx of cash or raise the debt ceiling. The Democrats want to raise taxes on the wealthiest one percent to make up the shortfall, and the Republicans are digging in their heels. They've been stink-eyeing Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security for years, but they've always been considered sacred cows because so many voters are old folks on Medicare and SS, and both sides know what would happen if they were threatened.
Well, last week, the President announced that cuts to these entitlements were on the table because if the country doesn't save money and raise the debt ceiling by August 2nd, it would be officially in default and unable to pay its debts. If that happened, then SS benefits would not go out, presumably because the government either wouldn't have the money, or because its available funds were diverted to the war effort.
So, it's like this:
Government Accountant: Oh, NOES! We're running out of monies.
President: Since you won't let me end the war, I'mma need some money from you rich people.
Rep: OMG, HDU! You can't expect hard-working Americans to support the poor. ~flamewar~
Dem: Goddammit, you can't expect the poor and middle-class to subsidize everything while you eat caviar.
President~facepalm~: All right, but we really need money or everyone is screwed, so I'm putting SS, Medicare, and Medicaid up for cuts.
Dems: HDU! FLAMES! FLAMES on the sides of our faces! Are you trying to get booted out of office?
Reps: Yeehaw! Finally, we can flush these leeches!
Dems: Fuck you, Reps! Fuck you, Mr. President!
Poor people: What about us? How are we supposed to eat?
President: We all have to make sacrifices, LOLZ!
Poor people: >:X
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