We created the problem and now agonize over fixing it

We are less than a week out from the United States shooting itself in the leg by going into default over the national debt. The Republicans, of course, are using the situation to do all they can to squeeze a few bucks out of future budgets... and it's always at the expense of the poor or the young or various minority groups.

Many have pointed out that the debt ceiling is made up and makes no sense in accounting terms or common sense. We took on loans for things past legislatures have approved and now there is a question as to whether we will pay our bills. It would all be laughable if it weren't for the possibility of the entire country suffering for an imaginary problem we could end with one vote.

A frustrating reality is that the Republican political machine rarely produces good results for the poor white people who make up a significant percentage of R votes... but the politicians and their media servants have found strategies to obscure the economic damage while claiming victories over progressive ideas like the right to choose for women and freedom to read for children. 

I sometimes can confuse the so-called leaders of the Angry White People Party with the everyday Americans who often vote for them, sometimes reluctantly but still... I saw a Bloomberg poll that showed 51 percent of Americans prefer the debt ceiling to be raised without being tied to spending cuts, while 25 percent are all for tying cuts to the deal. That leaves 24 percent somewhere in the middle, and that looks like what will happen in the next week.

The word "hostage" is being used a lot by Democratic politicians these days, and they point out that Dems never held the economy hostage when Trump was in office. It's not that Dems have never forced negotiations over the debt ceiling, but not in recent times.

Many Rs appear to be so "over" the idea of a fair fight or even acknowledging their opponents as humans worthy of respect. When winning is everything, no matter the consequences, the poor always get hurt in American politics. 

I am disappointed that Mr. Biden did not hold fast to "we will not negotiate" with terrorists (Rs) over the debt ceiling, but I suppose some sort of deal is necessary when minority rule has taken over the country. As long as Wyoming has as many votes in the Senate as California, there is little hope for any ideas that would benefit the vast majority of Americans... and politicians clearly don't care about national opinion.

After all, they don't get elected nationally, unless running for president (which R's can't win anymore). They get elected within a district or state, so who cares that over half the country prefers more gun safety laws, raising the debt ceiling with no strings, legalizing marijuana, and protecting women from laws that punish them for being the gender that gives birth.

Is it any wonder that the biggest threat to America is increasing feelings that nothing can be done. What does my vote matter? The rich and powerful will always get their way.

And that is my final thought as we enter Memorial Day weekend. I'm sure all those soldiers who died defending liberty are delighted to have sacrificed themselves for rich politicians who could not care less about dying soldiers, women, or children. 

This is not new in America. It's just become acceptable.