Cut the B-S and Raise the Damn Debt Ceiling

Okay guys, you had your months and months of angst at the expense of the people you represent. You postured and posed for the media, rammed home your talking points and accused the opposition of intransigence as each and every one of you  concentrated on staking out the high political ground and gaining the support of the voters you vehemently pretend to represent.

Well, guess what? Time has come today. Prove you are not charlatans and grifters. Pass a damn debt ceiling increase that takes the country through the next election (you heard me) and get down to the business of representing the American people who sent you to Washington.

Problems with the deficit? You betcha. So start passing appropriation bills that reflect fiscal responsibility. Start compromising - the Republicans on raising taxes from their historic lows - the Democrats on fixing Social Security and Medicare solvency and all of you on trimming back our obscenely bloated defense budget. Take a long, serious second (or first) look at the Simpson/Bowles recommendations. But for our country's sake - stop the meaningless gamesmanship that threatens not only United States fiscal stability, but that of the entire globe!

Stop kowtowing to your corporate donors and start legislating for your constituents and the future of your own children.

Enough is enough.

Dear Representative Chris Gibson

Over the past months, I have been reading and listening to all the reports on the debt ceiling and deficit reduction talks with considerable anxiety and chagrin.

Tonight I listened to the President's speech and am following his advice in writing to you to urge you to vote for a debt ceiling increase whether it includes deficit reduction, tax increases or not.

Although I believe the Simpson/Bowles report accurately reflects the painful, yet necessary steps to achieving fiscal stability, I also believe that raising the debt ceiling is NOT a choice. It is a necessity, before any other steps can be taken. The catastrophic consequences of defaulting will rock our world and destabilize not only the U. S., but the global economy.

Every bank account, investment account, annuity, 401K, 401B, IRA is threatened by default - not to mention Social Security and Medicare that keep our retired solvent and the Medicaid that insures the poorest among us have access to health care. Let us not forget either our military serving in foreign wars, our veterans struggling here at home or our businesses large and small who rely on lines of credit to meet their expenses.

I KNOW you are a patriot. Your service to our country proved that.

I beg you to support raising the debt ceiling. You were elected in a traditionally Republican district. But Kirsten Gillibrand proved that Democrats can win here. The American voters - Democratic, Republican and independent - DESPERATELY want representatives who represent them.