Addressing this crisis — and preventing recurrence — requires two specific legislative actions.
First, Congress should pass the bipartisan H.R. 3289 — Fiscal Commission Act, sponsored by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), and 41 co-sponsors. Such a commission would force a public reckoning with the facts, the trade-offs, and the hard choices that restoring fiscal health requires.
Second, Congress should call an Article V Convention limited to proposing a fiscal responsibility amendment to the U.S. Constitution. H.Con.Res. 15, sponsored by Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), would do exactly that.
This is a scare piece that tries to equate a national budget with home savings math and then says the only way to fix it is to use Republican austerity measures. Fuck them.
It is not literally true. The author is making the claim that the US is insolvent based on book assets and liabilities, but the finances of a government are very different from other financial entities where this simple view is no longer accurate. The US has unique assets, such as the ability to tax its citizens or manipulate its own currency to satisfy debt. What is the value of infinite money or the power to obtain it on demand? Thus, the government has theoretically unlimited assets that are not directly comparable to any business or individual. It can make assets out of thin air.
Insolvency only becomes relevant for governments when they’re unable to satisfy debts and investors no longer believe that they will be repaid. The short-term bond markets are still strongly of the opinion that US debt is virtually risk free. Until we see a large spike in short-term interest rates, insolvency? Absolutely that’s hyperbole. By that assets-based definition, most governments are insolvent right now.
Not missed it. Not reported on because of fear of reprisals and majority of the media is right winged so it doesn't suit their narrative.
The media in the US is completely controlled now. Freedom of the press is now a feverdream.
12 Comments
obvs@lemmy.world · 48 pts · 165d
And what a surprise; they’re talking about solving it by cutting the needs of the poor instead of the luxuries of the rich.
Pappabosley@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 165d
That's okay, they'll budget in a supply of bootstraps for people to pull themselves up by. /s
ChicoSuave@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 165d
This is a scare piece that tries to equate a national budget with home savings math and then says the only way to fix it is to use Republican austerity measures. Fuck them.
TacoButtPlug@sh.itjust.works · 5 pts · 165d
ahh Fortune being the trash rag it's always been, then.
kibiz0r@midwest.social · 22 pts · 165d
Only took them six paragraphs to pivot to the good ol “imagine the US is like your household…” fallacy.
altphoto@lemmy.today · 20 pts · 165d
He bankrupted a casino! Let us repeat that again... He bankrupted a casino!
Yes, he can bankrupt our country. Yes he did.
henfredemars@infosec.pub · 13 pts · 165d
Interesting read but title is extreme hyperbole.
Jason2357@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 165d
Is it not literally true?
henfredemars@infosec.pub · 3 pts · 165d
It is not literally true. The author is making the claim that the US is insolvent based on book assets and liabilities, but the finances of a government are very different from other financial entities where this simple view is no longer accurate. The US has unique assets, such as the ability to tax its citizens or manipulate its own currency to satisfy debt. What is the value of infinite money or the power to obtain it on demand? Thus, the government has theoretically unlimited assets that are not directly comparable to any business or individual. It can make assets out of thin air.
Insolvency only becomes relevant for governments when they’re unable to satisfy debts and investors no longer believe that they will be repaid. The short-term bond markets are still strongly of the opinion that US debt is virtually risk free. Until we see a large spike in short-term interest rates, insolvency? Absolutely that’s hyperbole. By that assets-based definition, most governments are insolvent right now.
ItWasTheDNS@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 165d
And again, the simpsons was right S15E3
stumu415@lemmy.zip · 0 pts · 165d
Not missed it. Not reported on because of fear of reprisals and majority of the media is right winged so it doesn't suit their narrative. The media in the US is completely controlled now. Freedom of the press is now a feverdream.
fubarx@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 165d
Finding the Money. Worth a watch: https://findingmoneyfilm.com/