truth

"the debt ceiling serves no rational purpose. Congress approves both taxes and spending; if Congress refuses to approve borrowing the difference, then Congress isn’t making a policy statement – it’s simply refusing to do its job."

-Noah Millman, via the Incidental Economist blog

the not-so-super congress

The New York Times reports that congress is already occupied with the issue of who, exactly, will serve on this so-called "super congress". For those of you unfamiliar with american politics, this does not mean a careful screeening of all our congressmen and women to decide who will be most competent and best able to work together. (Bipartisansip, which I seem to recall being a major buzz word in my youth, no longer even merits lip service.)

"The panel is expected to consider a wide range of proposals to slow the growth of entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, along with cuts to military spending and ways to raise more revenue.
... The House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi of California, said her appointees would “fight to protect” Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Republican leaders indicated they would not appoint anyone willing to raise taxes."

So, to review; Republicans flatly refuse to raise taxes and Democrats refuse to cut spending on major entitlement programs. You can make arguments for doing either, or both, but it doesn't take an economist to tell you that doing neither leaves us exactly where we are now. Oops.

As the far right seems most concerned with the national debt, you'd expect them to be somewhat more willing to put all options on the table, at least temporarily. That might interfere with their negotiating strategy of refusing to negotiate on anything, however, so I can see why they've chosen to stay the course regardless of the outcomes such drastic cuts and rising wealth inequality will undoubtedly produce for decades to come. Fortunately, they will likely manage to agree on something at the last minute when the Democrats reveal their negotiating prowess by once again folding like a cheap deck of cards. [In fairness to the Dems, they may not deserve such harsh criticism... but I really like the expression. also, you know, they might deserve it a little. Minus Congresswoman Giffords of course, who is a rock star and we all wish her well.]

Apparently, then, this "Super Congress" will be much like the regular congress, only significantly less democratic. umm, thanks guys.

dear republican party,

   since you have decided to play this game I will go you one better. I have come up with my own list of demands, which may or may not be feasible, but which I require to be met at once. this list includes the following:

1. strengthen, rather than undercut, health reform. commit to this experiment for the next 25 years. then, we can have a real debate about weather or not it has worked. (also, the criteria for this will be whether we, as a people are healthier. whether the cost of this improved health is or is not sustainable will be an important, but secondary, consideration.)

2. every american should be entitled to government loans for their undergraduate education. these should be offered at the best possible rate, and repayment time tables should be based on the amount one actually earns. (see: australia)

3. do something about global warming, climate change and our contributin to it. really, its just embarrasing already.

4. end the bush tax cuts. do we really have the money to pay people to be rich? i think not.

5. take an economics class. you are a national politician and as such have a tremendous influence on our economy and thus the global economy. you should therefore be knowledgeable about certain things, like what a debt ceiling is and what happens if we hit it.

6. remember that the goal of a public servant is to serve the public. the goal of a representative is likewise obvious. when you are driven solely by ideology and grandstanding and fail to either represent the people or act in their best interests, its time to think about retirement. i'm sure your constituents are.

sincerely yours,
rachel.

greetings from scandinavia

i've been traveling for almost two weeks now, and have opted to spend my time actually out doing things and meeting people rather than sitting in front of the computer writing about what i've done. (there are plusses and minuses to this approach,obviously. i am doing lots but will remember little of it.) however today i make an exception to that rule.

this afternoon i went biking through Gevinge, Denmark (aka the Valley of the Gods) down to the fjord. i'm not exactly an experienced biker, in fact it rather terrifies me, but the scenery here makes it totally worth it.

i rode. first with trepidation, then a soaring sense of triumph.the air smelled like rain and wheat and new beginnings.

i think the bikes have officially won me over. ^^

moving out, moving on.

"But nothing is more beautiful than when someone who isn't mad goes into the unknown, led by a mad voice"   -Milan Kundera, Immortality.

As I pack up my life for what feels like the millionth time, what felt like a reasonable amount of stuff has come to feel like an unbearable burden. Every time I move I swear to put an end to all this stuff. It never seems to take, however.

Anyhow, tomorrow I set off on a new journey. I'll be following that mad voice in search of beauty and adventure. Sanity and productive adulthood can wait till the fall.

Happy summer, everyone! Be well and travel safe.