Like it or not, we are where we are . Regardless of our differences in political and social orientation , we are in the same boat that is full of holes.

Wrangling about who is to blame is not going to change where we are. 
What we decide to do at this point will have enormous consequences on our present condition and future prospects as a society. It's clear that if we default on our obligations, we would, in effect, be slashing our economic wrist.

The national debt ceiling needs to be raised in order to enable us to honor our obligations, but we should gradually begin to rein in our expenditures and increase our national revenue stream by a combination of responsible and prudent spending cuts coupled with some revenue enhancements through progressive tax "upgrades" for the very wealthy plus the withdrawal of the huge subsidies to the indecently profitable oil companies and a substantial reduction in war spending. Objectively speaking, we have been spending much too much on wars.  (No need to dazzle you with the stunning statistics.) As a result we have been sufferring not only in dollars, but more importantly, in human lives. It seems clear that fixing the blame is nowhere nearly as important as fixing the problem. Independents, Republicans and Democrats are all in the same boat. It would make sense for all of us to plug the holes and paddle in the same direction.

Or, we will surely sink in same direction -- to the bottom of oblivion.

Until next week... have a nice DWIFFY.

The typical paper pundit writes too long. Too many of them love to beat around the bush, show off their vocabulary and in the process take too much of the reader's time.

Here I will give you my ideas and opinions without making you look at your watch and without pushing you to check the dictionary to be sure of what I mean. I believe that as far as readers are concerned, short is sweet. As the most important poet and playwright in English said, “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

I promise to take one minute (or less) of your time. In exchange, I'll tell you what I think of big and not-so-big issues, including some controversial ones, unpopular viewpoints, and topics that are timely as well as those that are timeless. Whether what I offer is worth your sixty seconds is your call.

If an idea or proposal is best expressed by a quotation, I will use the quote and cite the author, if I know the author. Right now, I believe this sentiment by Will Rogers is most appropriate and very timely to cite.

The US Congress is the best Congress money can buy.

Of course, we all know it probably applies beyond the legislative segment of our government. Rogers first wrote this in the 1930s, but who can dispute that it is still true today?

Until next week... Have a nice DWIFFY*
( * DWIFFY means "Do Whatever Is Fun For You." )