I've read about the last "I'm so disappointed that Obama is negotiating on SS and Medicare" comment that I want to read. I'm going to write this diary and then I'm going to take the weekend off from Kos. I'm getting ready to start saying some truly livid stuff.
The major condition of a negotiation is: Two parties (with the power to change Circumstance X) do not agree. Both have want lists surrounding Circumstance X.
Rule #1 in negotiation: In order to get something out of Circumstance X, you must have something the other party wants, that you are willing to give up.
There are two items in play here: Obama's want list includes keeping the US economy from falling into a Depression. The GOP's want list includes cutting social spending. We all know we are dealing with lunatics. Unfortunately there is nobody else around. There is no "bigger" adult in the room on the GOP side than John Boehner right now, and he's letting Cantor run away with the show.
Given everything else that will happen if the US defaults, and those of us who do have jobs are then unemployed, I prefer to stay employed, and to have at least a chance of coming out of this economic slump sometime before I retire.
If I have to shell out $1-200 additionally every year to premiums or whatever, I'm not hurting. Sorry. I can't get upset about it.
But I can get upset about the idea of my dollars suddenly being worth 1/4 of what they are right now, and the resulting complete inability to function that would result. So should you.
If you are uncomfortable with the negotiation process, you should stay out of it. It is not for the faint of heart. Obama is up there negotiating with people who are as unreasonable as the Nazis were. It's a mother-fucker of a job. I dare any of you critics to put yourself in his shoes and ask yourself, really, what options would you have. THe GOP is holding us all hostage. They will continue to do so until they are stopped.
I think and I am undeterred from thinking that what we are seeing here is not about cuts to social security and medicare. The GOP may think that, but I think Obama's agenda is taking the bludgeon of the deficit away from them for the future. And I think it is working. Eric Cantor is suffering his "back of the plane" moment. His legitimacy as a Congressional leader is taking huge hit after huge hit. I think Obama is breaking the Tea Party right the fuck over his knee. It is painful, and it will cost him. He's doing it anyway because it is right for all of us.