Thread: Coburn unveils the $9 trillion plan

What is more likely is that the Republicans and the President come to a deal and the Tea Party gets left out. Which is fine, the Tea party needs to learn that compromise is not a four-letter word. The Tea Party will be free to dictate the day they win the Presidency and control of Congress. Until then, they have to make deals. Or be irrelevant. Their choice. And I say that as a proud Tea Partier myself.

And I'm not alone. On the Tea Party Facebook site, lots of us call for compromise.

Originally Posted by adaher

careful. The President threatened to veto a short term extension. In addition, only the President can order our debts to not be paid. There is plenty of money to cover our debt payments, so the only way they don't get covered is if the President orders other spending prioritized over debt payments.

Im not even sure the President can order debts not to be paid. I dont know what the technical process is when you have multiple laws ordering various spending.

I think court decisions said that if money is short, in the absence of Congressional guidance on what to prioritize, the President(or governor) decides what to pay and what not to pay.

Originally Posted by adaher

I think court decisions said that if money is short, in the absence of Congressional guidance on what to prioritize, the President(or governor) decides what to pay and what not to pay.

The question becomes, which 40% of the government are we going to drop?

Well, the Constitution says debt comes first. After that, I'd imagine mandatory spending. From what I've read, we can afford to pay SS, Medicare, and interest on the debt. All other spending would have to cease for awhile.

We might be able to spend a little more though because SS' bonds don't count against the debt limit. Those can be converted into cash. So it's possible we could pay for the wars and soldier pay as well.

Yeah.

Then open the borders because the Border Patrol has to stay home. Or close the borders. One or the other.

Close down the airports. Think people will notice? I think so. But at least that makes closing the Passport offices easier.

Close down the ports because the Coast Guard can't ensure their safety. Give a lot of ports people, semi- drivers, and train operators some much deserved time off. Without pay. Hope they have some savings.

National Parks in August--close 'em and all the businesses that are supported by their visits. Saves wear and tear on the environment.

Finally can shut down the IRS. Of course that will just make our deficit problem bigger, kind of like closing down Accounts Payable in order to save money. But just think--no taxman pounding on your door, demanding that you stop cheating everyone else.

Stop payments to private vendors. They won't mind if it's keeping those fat subsidies flowing to the oil industry.

I like the idea of throwing open the gates to federal prisons. The inmates will get a lot of exercise real quick.

Maybe this won't be such a big deal after all.

Until everyone interest rates soar on credit card debt, mortgage debt, student loan debt, and so on.

Gee, that would kind of be like a tax hike, wouldn't it?