October 15, 2013 - Billings, Montana. Passing through on my way to Port Townsend to hang out with some of my old high school friends. The trip has been an interesting passage from the mid west to the west while the government remains shut down and the debt limit looms. Quick stop here to check my bank balances, gigs and to drop this fast note.
Just a thought to consider here - what happens when we default? Or even better, what has already happened. I have said this before but will say again, this bickering undermines our place in the world. As the Chinese suggested over the weekend in one of their state papers, why should the world continue to keep faith in an American economy as the world's underlying economic guide? What they are saying is that we are at risk of no longer being the world's reserve currency - and impact of which will likely be higher borrowing rates for all Americans in the long run. More importantly it becomes a sure sign of our slipping stature.
Can a group of American legislators be so profoundly committed to a path that would truly realign our position in the world? It appears as though the answer, at least from the Republican Party Tea Part "Patriots", is "yes". Even more of a question would be "why?" There are some potentially interesting possible answers to that. They begin with Rep. Bachman's comments recently that this is all fitting into the apocalyptical plans of the End Times.... If true, "what a role I will have played!" is what I guess must be how she sees this. They are followed by the very words of Rush Limbaugh who claimed again today (as, I confess, I listened) that this is all about race and that Obama is using his race to get everything he wants. Or put more practically, there are people like Rush who can't seem to stand that a President of color might actually be able to push policies based on their merit. It might be about race, but not how Rush thinks of it.... And while I am in deep disagreement with this President on many things (especially NSA policy and the compulsion of security personnel to lie to Congress and America), I am more disturbed by this willful ignorance in dealing with our economy because certain Members of Congress either think it is biblical prophecy or they are simply bent on destroying an economy because of a President's race. Because, lets face it, if you say he only governs because of his race or he can't govern because of his race, its you who are making race the issue.
Enough for now. Looking forward to celebrating default eve with my buddies out West, in the other Washington!