see different voting behavior in the next election. If the president steps in, then members of Congress would once again have cover for their irresponsibility. It would also set the precedent that Congress can give up power over finances for short-term political gain. Failure to raise the debt ceiling would result in a drop in our credit rating. It would mean that Social Security payments and tax refunds would be delayed by a few months. It may even push the US back into a recession. Hopefully though, it would result in changes in long term voting behavior. Besides, if Congress raises the debt ceiling by itself then that would be a sign that they are already behaving more responsibly without intervention by voters.
S
GILBERT ST
DUBUQUE ST
PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
OUTH Linn
In general, the voting public knows Congress is not functioning well but they are unsure as to why. M.S.: Wow, so you’d be willing to let the country actually default in an attempt to trigger a change in voting behavior. I think that strategy might be counter-productive. What is the change in voting behavior that we’re looking for? With campaign finance laws the way they are, the answer for me is for people to feel social pressure to vote in primaries rather than huge behemoth national elections so we can get some folks running for office that would, as you put it, “behave responsibly.” Now, allowing the country to default would get some number of people to the primaries, but it would get them there in a heightened emotional state. I certainly don’t make the greatest choices when I’m in that state, do you? I want stable, reasonable people selecting the people who might govern us, and I think default will not deliver that electorate to us. All three branches of government should do everything legally possible to prevent it. Vikram Patel and Matt Sowada are the friendly adversaries behind the twice-weekly ethical debates series, American Reason. Listen on KRUI every Sunday from 4-5 p.m., and find an archive of the shows (as well as exclusive web-only content) online at LittleVillageMag.com.
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