Dear President Obama and Congress:
This is going to be short, sweet and a direct hit on your fun and games played at the expense of our country’s well-being. So straighten up and listen.
The term “the full faith and credit” of the United States has a much more serious and pointed meaning than your political futures. Our international and domestic standing is dependent on our ability to honor our obligations. The time to raise the debt ceiling is now, so that we can be responsible in paying off our indebtedness. The time to curb our voracious appetite for spending was yesterday and tomorrow. Once we have incurred debt to other countries, we are obligated to service that debt.
The rioting in Greece over the austerity measures that country has had to assume in order to repay their ridiculous debt is well and good. The people are livid at the cuts in benefits that they are experiencing:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Likewise, the continent of Europe is also a bit pissed at the consequences of their (and Greece’s) fiscal irresponsibility. Greece’s woes definitely have a domino effect throughout the entire EU. But that continent has to face up to their own problems and quit bellyaching that once again, the United States should “save” them.
Hell, the U.S. cannot even save itself. We have our own disasters to deal with, having ignored the writing on the wall for decades. We have no viable health care system, our educational programs are failing, our infrastructure is falling apart and our social safety net is dwindling every day. Certainly I would be willing to pay higher taxes for fewer services —- for my country. No way am I agreeable to doing that for Greece or other countries of the EU.
As things stand, we are already engaged in three wars and three attempts at nation building abroad. My tunnel vision is to concentrate what assets we have left right here at home. Europe is going to have to take it on the chin and make whatever cuts they need to in order to fiscally survive. We should not save them yet again.
Americans likewise are battling against the need to institute austerity measures. This is not a popular political policy, but it must be undertaken. We would have to be crazy to assume other nations’ austerity measures as well. So get with the program: raise our debt ceiling to make good on the obligations we have already assumed. Then take that budget knife and cut, as kindly as you can, all the fat from our government and entitlements. But do not ask Americans to pay for the cuts of other countries. That would be the last straw.
Perhaps you ought to start treating your country as firmly and responsibly as you would your own child. Otherwise, you should not be a father or a national leader. Get on with it.
Yours but not Europe's,
Yo Mama
POSTSCRIPT:
Lo and behold, after writing this post I opened up the Washington Post. Look what I found:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...