A few random things that are running through my mind today...
Reading of and watching a few republican extremists on TV...they are now saying that not increasing the debt ceiling, in effect not enabling the Federal government to pay the debts it has already incurred, is not only a minor adjustment but a very desirable outcome...a SOLUTION to the "huge increase in spending" under the Obama Administration.
I have seen articles in various financial publications that seem to indicate that many professional investors and wall street types agree with this insanity, despite repeated warnings by almost every actual economist in the world.
In a previous diary, I said that I was closing my stock investment accounts, and I have nearly completed this, transferring my money to simple money market accounts...I'm about 99% out of the market as of Saturday AM.
I want to repeat that if any of you can do this, I strongly urge you to do it... I do not see a safe investment in stocks or bonds, and I have been amazed that so many "experts" are comfortable with the impending failure of US credit.
I have also read that should the debt ceiling increase not be approved, NO Social Security payments, Medicare or Medicaid or disability payments will be made after November 1st...and I have no doubt that there are many more government programs that are already suffering from the shutdown that will END around the same time.
Let me re state that I believe the GOP has NO INTENTION AT ALL of ending the shutdown, and that the extremists driving the House GOP are planning to let the debt ceiling limit fail...some of them saying this is "strong medicine" that is needed for the government to get "back on track"...whatever that track may be and wherever is is leading.
I am retired, living on a small pension, Social Security payments well below the average of $14,000 per year - I retired early to care for my chronically ill wife, who died in 2011 - and some investments in mutual funds. This is all I have and there won't be any more coming in, and I feel the need to PROTECT what I can from this insanity.
FWIW, I believe the GOP has succeeded in destroying itself, which it refuses to believe. National polls - ALL national polls - give at least a 6 point shift to Democrats across the board, and in those Gerrymandered "safe" GOP districts the shift against republicans is now around 20 points and more, indicating a massive Democratic sweep in any upcoming elections.
I also fear that the GOP has succeeded in crippling what recovery we have struggled to achieve despite the republicans efforts to stop it, and I fear they will cause incredible harm, pain and misery to the American people.
The republican party is our enemy. Their "leadership" is insane and delusional and the few remaining rational republicans are trying to distance themselves from the maniacs of the teaparty, but the damage they are about to inflict on our country will NEVER fade from memory...
I have always read that "May you live in interesting times" was an old Chinese curse...now I really believe that.