It's my view that the founding fathers would have been appalled that only 1/2 of the republican caucus bothered to show up for the reading the U.S. Constitution. They would appalled that the leadership only plans to be in session for 35 weeks in a nation of over 300 million people when over 80 percent of the public is satisfied with their performance. It is my view that the founders would be disgusted that representatives are unable to govern and want to pass a balanced budget amendment so they can absolve themselves of the responsibility to govern and harm the country with limited capacity to act when the facts change. In my view the founders would admire the former senator of Wyoming who said that any legislator who signed the Grover Norquist pledge didn't even belong in congress. In my view, referring to the debt limit as 'ransom' represents the epitome of disservice to the country. In my view, the American people have it right when they communicate with our representatives that they have harmed us, they have damaged the reputation of our country, they have lied to us, and they cannot be trusted to cooperate for the good of the country. I would urge you congressman Forbes, to immediately vote to raise the debt limit without conditions, and to apologize to the American people for the inaction that has severely harmed the nation.

In the 1990s when the debt was rising, and we didn't have a balanced budget, but were somewhat close (as compared to today), we could have raised the debt ceiling and gotten away with it once or twice. What we did, is the same thing that everyday citizens do when they get in a bind... put their bills that they can't pay on another credit card. That is rediculous. Eventually, that catches up with you and you end up losing everything. Instead of getting another credit card with the credit of our everyday citizens, the government should take a real hard look at the money situation and determine which programs should be cut. If we don't start cutting the pork now, we will never get out of debt. If we keep adding another credit card to our debt, we will eventally be run by those who are funding our terrible spending habbits. We need to default on some of our lower priority debts, keep paying the higher priority debts, and cut the spending to reel in the deficit. If you own a home, a car, and a boat, have a student loan, and a credit card payment, what do you do if you can't pay your bills every month? You default on what you don't actually need. Give up the boat, and possibly the car, which in turn allows you to keep your house. Then you don't spend anymore until you have paid off your credit card. You don't just raise your credit line in order to put more on the card. That just prolongs the repossession of everything and makes the final outcome worse. The government should run the same way.

Stop SPENDING and pay your bills. Here is a start: Short term - not a lot of money but signals a change = Reduce cabinet offices to the 4 essential posts that actually affect national security and welfare: State, Defense, Treasury and Justice. Eliminate all other secretaries, deputy secretaries, assistant deputy secretaries and their staffs. [Congress can refuse to fund the other offices.] Reduce congressional staff by 1/2; reduce congressional salaries by 1/2; do not reimburse home state travel by members of congress [pay for 1 round trip per year to DC]; eliminate all boards, study groups, advisory committees that do not have an operational function. Revise the tax code so that everyone pays something; e.g., brackets are 1%; 3%; 5%; 7% 10%. End of report - no deductions, no subsidies, no farm support - if it is not commercially viable don't fund it. [Exception - national defense base.] The Tax Code is the principle corrupting influence in Washington. Every provision has a constituency and every constituency wants something for which they are willing to pay. Eliminate the 'root of all evil'. Finally DO NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR 2 TERMS OR MORE!. The reason nothing gets done in Washington is because members spend the majority or their time trying to get reelected. That means partisan fights rather than patriotic duty; and fund raising which equals corruption. [Ask Jack Abrammoff.] Members do not read bills; they append amendments instead of drafting sound legislation; they let their staffs do all the negotiating and research and are clueless when it comes to real world impacts. Think about it.

The raising of the debt ceiling and spending cuts are two different issues. If Congress and the Senate would do their jobs and do what the Amegrican people wanted, cut spending then passing a bill to balance the budget would satisfy the problem.

Congress needs to get their act together and start taking responsibility for what they have done!!! Taxes on the wealthy need to be increased, you need to stop chopping the living daylights out of NECESSARY programs and start chopping the living daylights out of FOREIGN AID!!!!!!!!! Grow up!

You should force smaller Government, without default. Pay the bills that we have, if we cannot afford, do like every business owner and homeowner does, cut. Cut should include personnel, military, justice, CDC, FDA, FCC, etc. Where is the logic in the continued borrowing of 40B per month to the FED which creates the money out of thin air then charges you and me interested at a latter date?

Please look at cutting waste first. Second, prioritize programs and budget accordingly and have a plan to reduce debt. Only after that consider raising the debt sealing if it is necessary to continue. Remember not to use one credit card to pay off another or you will end up going bankrupt.

I would support a proposal to raise the debt ceiling if it included significant spending cuts. Our spending is out of control! I'm placing my comment here because the poll link is not working.

I do not support raising of the debt ceiling at all. Because when we did that the last time we only kept on spending. It is time for the US to face the cold hard truth, which is we need to stop all unnecessary spending. We can start by reducing foreign aid to other countries and stop sending foreign aid to countries who do not respect and protect our interests overseas. We cannot help others if we cannot pay our bills. Second we cut all of the unnecessary subsidy programs that we have going on starting with the cellphone subsidy. This is not a necessity it is a luxury and one that the government should not be paying for. If we continue to spend like this then we will end up going down the same path as Greece and guess what we don't have anyone to bail us out.

We've already seen that Obama's priorities when it comes to spending cuts are the government’s lowest priorities – interest on the debt, national security, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. In every one of these areas he has repeatedly refused to fund or has cut funding to such a level as will harm our future as a world leader. Until he is removed from office either thru impeachement or else at the end of his second term (and refusal of a 3rd and 4th term) there is no way forward. We have seen no budgets comming out of congress because he not only refuses to move from his course of destruction of this country, but instead is actively seeking a way to implement his own destructive strategy on an unwilling country thru executive orders.

When Qimonda Semiconductor went bankrupt in 2009 the first thing we were told was to control our spending and only the nessesities should be delt with. There wasn't anyone helping us by increasing our dept limit just the oppesite everything was cut off. Wehad to take it on the chin so to speak, as long as we still money in the bank we could not get any help and when our savings and retirement money was gone and still no increase in the incoming revenue we were left to flounder in our loses. this is the point since the collapse in 2008 the liberals have continued spending and have increased it threefold. With less coming in no one has cut back. Large unregulated bills have been passed with out being read. This is total irresponsibility on the elected offical of this country. No more debt and no more free ride for those not willing to actively work, no more free loading by using the government as the father for the children of unwed mothers who refuse to identify the father. It is time politicians get real and start by passing a budget and sticking to it. Then stop the pork it is stealing from the hard working American people.

The debt ceiling should only be raised in conjunction with significant cuts *and* a balanced budget amendment. We have surpassed the limits of Keynesian economics and if we do no end year to year debt spending, collapse is inevitable.

Roy E. Manoley Jr. · Meadowbrook High My personal views on the issue is, First stop sending millions of dollars overseas to take care of others and put that money to the cause here in our own country. Second the tax issue should be addressed, A 10 percent across the board tax with no loop holes to get out of paying the tax. 10 percent would help the little guy and make the rich ones pay there equal share. I'm a firm believer that we should help strighten our own backyard before we go and try to fix some others mess. Close our doors and take care of our own. I guess it's time for me to stop with that said.

The debt ceiling should not be raised. The budget should be balanced. Ron Paul Showed how to do it in one year so it must not be that difficult. A debt payment plan should be made to include payment of the interest. in a significant reduction of the balance. We should not be giving American tax dollars to foreign countries. Period.

What is your stand on this and What is your answer to the question at the end?: Notice S.S. and the military are NOT on this list. These are all the programs that the new Republican House has proposed cutting. Read to the end. * Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy -- $445 million annual savings. * Save America's Treasures Program -- $25 million annual savings. * International Fund for Ireland -- $17 million annual savings. * Legal Services Corporation -- $420 million annual savings. * National Endowment for the Arts -- $167.5 million annual savings. * National Endowment for the Humanities -- $167.5 million annual Savings. * Hope VI Program -- $250 million Annual savings. * Amtrak Subsidies -- $1.565 billion annual savings. * Eliminate duplicating education programs -- H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually. * U.S. Trade Development Agency -- $55 million annual savings. * WoodrowWilsonCenter Subsidy -- $20 million annual savings. * Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding -- $47 million annual savings. * JohnC.StennisCenter Subsidy -- $430,000 annual savings. * Community Development Fund -- $4.5 billion annual savings. * Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid -- $24 million annual savings. * Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half -- $7.5 billion annual savings * Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20% -- $600 million annual savings. * Essential Air Service -- $150 million annual savings. * Technology Innovation Program -- $70 Million annual savings. * Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program -- $125 million annual savings. * Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization -- $530 million annual savings. * Beach Replenishment -- $95 million annual savings. * New Starts Transit -- $2 billion annual savings. * Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts -- $9 million annual savings * Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants -- $2.5 billion annual savings. * Title X Family Planning -- $318 million annual savings. * Appalachian Regional Commission -- $76 million annual savings. * Economic Development Administration -- $293 million annual savings. * Programs under the National and Community Services Act -- $1.15 billion annual savings. * Applied Research at Department of Energy -- $1.27 billion annual savings. * Freedom CAR and Fuel Partnership -- $200 million annual savings. * Energy Star Program -- $52 million annual savings. * Economic Assistance to Egypt -- $250 million annually. * U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment -- $1.39 billion annual savings. * General Assistance to District of Columbia -- $210 million annual savings. * Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority -- $150 million annual savings. * Presidential Campaign Fund -- $775 millionsavings over ten years. * No funding for federal office space acquisition -- $864 million annual savings. * End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services. * Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act -- More than $1 billion annually. * IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for some services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of Allowing it to remain as part of its budget -- $1.8 billion savings over ten years. * Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees -- $1 billion total savings. WHAT THE H..... IS THIS ABOUT? * Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees -- $1.2 billion savings Over ten years. * Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of -- $15 billion Total savings. * Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress. WHAT??? * Eliminate Mohair Subsidies -- $1 million annual savings. * Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- $12.5 million annual savings WELL ISN'T THAT SPECIAL * Eliminate Market Access Program -- $200 million annual savings. * USDA Sugar Program -- $14 million annual savings. * Subsidy to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -- $93 million annual savings. * Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program -- $56.2 million annual savings. * Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs -- $900 million savings. * Ready to Learn TV Program -- $27 million savings.. WHY????? * HUD Ph.D. Program. * Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act. * TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years My question is,what is all this crap doing in the budget in the first place?

The debt ceiling should be lowered, just like congressional incomes, based on the amount they vote to spend that can be 1)demonstrated to be "pork", 2)shown to be wasteful or redundant, 3)shown to be intrusive on State's Rights. Just to begin with. Federal abuse of powers is epidemic, spilling not only into spending but into the many "oversight" groups, committees and agencies that have no business trying to regulate American life. I have help for some time that just for starters, Commerce, Environment, Labor, Education, Revenue and of course BATFE should be obliterated. The freedom to pursue business and livelihood created would spur job-creation, so that those who loose their jobs to the obliteration could get new ones being productive instead of intrusive. But that's a dream...

Rep. Forbes, is your short term memory so terrible that you cannot remember what happened in 2011 when the House played games with raising the national debt ceiling? I will remind you. The United States of America’s credit was down graded by Standard and Poor from AAA to A and the stock market plummeted. Why do you insist on holding the country hostage? You know that by not raising the debt ceiling you will cause government workers to not receive pay checks ( which would not be so bad if this only included House members), interest rates would sky rocket making it harder for families to afford homes, the dollar would take a nose dive, economic growth would at best slow if not reverse, and folks living on social security may not get checks, as in what happened in 1996. You sir, and other House republicans have become so obstructionist that you have become unpatriotic. You damn this President at the expense of your constituents and the hard working middleclass of this country and your districts. For those of you reading this who have heard House Republicans and Tea Party members try to scare you into believing that we will be passing along a humongous burden to our children and grand children, I would like to present you with this quote from Fox News: “Fully two-thirds of the national debt is owed to the U.S. government, American investors and future retirees, through the Social Security Trust Fund and pension plans for civil service workers and military personnel. China, it turns out, holds less than 8 percent of the money our government has borrowed over the years” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/04/who-do-owe-most-that-16-trillion-to-hint-it-isnt-china/#ixzz2INNHGTgA And you should know that the United States of America has a good bit of assets, here is an example: “For example, we own an impressive portfolio of financial assets: $540 billion in direct loans (e.g., student loans) and mortgage-backed securities $240 billion in TARP loans and equity investments (some of which have since be repaid) $24 billion in a trust that invested in AIG $65 billion in preferred stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac We also have a tidy amount of gold: $250+ billion (The official financial statements report the gold as worth $11 billion, but that’s assuming gold is worth $42 per ounce. Gold prices are now about 25 times higher.)” - cited from Donald Marron In closing sir, I once again urge you to stop using the debt ceiling as a negotiating tool. Stop trying to ruin our middleclass and the hard working teachers, civil servants, and veterans of our great nation. Work with the Democrats in the House, the Senate and the White House to repair our economy and at the same time you may work on your shameful record as our great districts representative.

Rep. Forbes, is your short term memory so terrible that you cannot remember what happened in 2011 when the House played games with raising the national debt ceiling? I will remind you. The United States of America’s credit was down graded by Standard and Poor from AAA to A and the stock market plummeted. Why do you insist on holding the country hostage? You know that by not raising the debt ceiling you will cause government workers to not receive pay checks ( which would not be so bad if this only included House members), interest rates would sky rocket making it harder for families to afford homes, the dollar would take a nose dive, economic growth would at best slow if not reverse, and folks living on social security may not get checks, as in what happened in 1996. You sir, and other House republicans have become so obstructionist that you have become unpatriotic. You damn this President at the expense of your constituents and the hard working middleclass of this country and your districts. For those of you reading this who have heard House Republicans and Tea Party members try to scare you into believing that we will be passing along a humongous burden to our children and grand children, I would like to present you with this quote from Fox News: “Fully two-thirds of the national debt is owed to the U.S. government, American investors and future retirees, through the Social Security Trust Fund and pension plans for civil service workers and military personnel. China, it turns out, holds less than 8 percent of the money our government has borrowed over the years” Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/04/who-do-owe-most-that-16-trillion-to-hint-it-isnt-china/#ixzz2INNHGTgA And you should know that the United States of America has a good bit of assets, here is an example: “For example, we own an impressive portfolio of financial assets: $540 billion in direct loans (e.g., student loans) and mortgage-backed securities $240 billion in TARP loans and equity investments (some of which have since be repaid) $24 billion in a trust that invested in AIG $65 billion in preferred stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac We also have a tidy amount of gold: $250+ billion (The official financial statements report the gold as worth $11 billion, but that’s assuming gold is worth $42 per ounce. Gold prices are now about 25 times higher.)” - cited from Donald Marron In closing sir, I once again urge you to stop using the debt ceiling as a negotiating tool. Stop trying to ruin our middleclass and the hard working teachers, civil servants, and veterans of our great nation. Work with the Democrats in the House, the Senate and the White House to repair our economy and at the same time you may work on your shameful record as our great districts representative.

I urge you to stop using the debt ceiling as a negotiating tool, please stop trying to ruin our middle and hard working teachers, civil servants and veterans of our great antion. You needto work with Democrats in the House, the Senate and the White House to repair our economy and at the same time you may work on your shameful record as our great districts representative...

I urge you to stop using the debt ceiling as a negotiating tool...

The debt ceiling MUST be raised. It is not Obama's fault that Congress keeps passing laws that allocate more spending than we take it. It is the job of CONGRESS to pass the budget. "Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, . . . (etc), to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;" (US Constitution, Article One, Section 8). And "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law" (Constitution, Article One, Section 9). Congress makes the law. Thanks to Congress, "We the people" have debts. These debts MUST be paid. The debt ceiling only represents how much money we must borrow to pay for what we have ALREADY spent. If we do not , "we the people" will be in default, and that means damaging our credit rating and winding up having to pay more for what we have ALREADY borrowed. Yes, spending needs to be brought under control. But the debt ceiling is not the place to do it. It must be done in the the LAWS that determine how much we spend, and how much we take in in taxes. That is the job of Congress. Playing chicken with the debt ceiling just makes our government look inept.

Congress should make another attempt at requiring a balanced budget. If I were to max out all my credit cards and call the companies asking to "raise my debt ceiling" I would be laughed at. Cut spending so future bills can be paid. So much money is wasted that can never be repaid.

It wouldn't let me select not raise the debt ceiling. My creditors won't raise my credit limit to pay my other bills. Come on, we need to make cuts from top to bottom witbout affecting schools, social security or defense. Simple really!

I AGREE WITH RUSTY KERR AND SUE MOORE. I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. ALSO, I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL OBAMA GETS IMPEACHED. AT THE RATE HE'S GOING IT WON'T BE LONG

Do NOT raise the debt ceiling! Cut spending.

Don't raise the debt limit, enough os enough!! Implement drastic spending cuts immediately, since the politicians have sucked enough blood out of the turnip and still want more!!

I am a liberal, but no, I do not believe that government spending should just go up and up and up into the stratosphere with no end in sight. HOWEVER, that said, I consider it highly irresponsible to tighten the screws on all spending (except the military, of course, and subsidies to big business, of course), during a time when so many are still unemployed and so many are still hurting. People complain that so many people have been added to government assistance, but in a downturn like this, what do people expect? That we should just let those who lost jobs, homes, and livelihoods through no fault of their own, just starve and go homeless? Wall Street melted down the economy through their own arrogance and unregulated greed, not the average man and woman in the street. Think of it like this: In a household of four, Dad loses his job and Mom gets cut to part time. Do they (a) just stop eating and move right out into the street, because the most important thing is to balance the budget, therefore not one single little penny must be spent, even though the family is out on the street and the kids have nothing to eat? or, (b), borrow from somewhere so there is a roof overhead, a place to shower, and food to eat, until Mom and Dad both have jobs again and THEN pay down the debt and balance the budget? Which makes more sense? Which strategy makes it more likely that Mom and Dad WILL eventually be able to get jobs again, pay down debt, and balance their budget? Congress, you can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin it once. If you continue to adopt policies that impoverish the average person beyond any hope of recovery, you have just skinned the American people, and although many do call us sheep, we will prove most sheeplike in that we will no longer be able to produce any wool...for ourselves or anyone else, if draconian austerity policies drive us into homelessness, joblessness even longer-term that this, or unrecoverable personal debt. HELP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BACK UP, PLEASE. THAT IS WHAT WE ELECT YOU TO DO. *THEN* balance the budget. Thank you.

Do not raise the debt limit, enough is enough.!! Immediately implement significant spending cuts on a priority of need basis. Politicians need to stop voting to suck more blood out of those of us who do pay taxes.

we would not be in this MESS if YOU INEPT REPS>??????? would have been doing the job you were elected to do NOW YOU NEED TO THINK / ACT LIKE AN AMERICAM INSTEAD OF A POLITCAL ROBOT

Raising the debt ceiling at this time is not debatable. It should have been debated months ago possibly around the time the FY13 budget should have been passed. It wasn't . We are in a CR, again. This time with the possibility of no budget for this year. The current year budget is child's play compared to Congress's responsibility toward the fiscal cliff. Spending cuts will be necessary. Vote to do them across the board not along partisan lines. Your constituents and your local economy is depending on your representation. The next time you vote 'No' on passing measures to avoid the fiscal cliff, use this forum to provide an explanation

Do not raise the debt ceiling. The governmemt must live within its means. Recommend cut spending obligations as needed including the following: 1. Eliminate foreign aid to all countries other than Israel. 2. Eliminate funding for all presidential advisors other than Cabinet Secretaries. All "czars" must be terminated. 3. Reduce the number of SES positions by 50%. 4. Require retirement for all government employees who are eligible for retirement. 5. Implement the Fair Tax and eliminate the IRS. 6. Eliminate the Department of Education. 7. Require the President to pay for all use of Air Force One and other government transportation for any travel that includes his attending any fundraiser, Democrat Party function, or any function not directly related to his job as President of the U.S. 8. Require the same as item 7 for all members of Congress, Cabinet Secretaries, the Vice President, and any Executive Branch appointee. 9. Conduct a review of internet use by all government employees and government contractors working in government offices and/or using government owned computers. Eliminate all personnel found using the internet for non-work related business for 1 or more hours per day or 8 or more hours in any one week. 10. Conduct a manpower review of all government organizations to identify and eliminate government employees and government contrators in duplicate and non-productive positions. 11. Conduct an organization review to identify new positions created in the past four years. These positions must be justified in terms of production and return on investment or be eliminated. 12. Eliminate all earmarks and amendments requiring funding or otherwise that are unrelated to specific legislation. (e.g., the Hurricane Sandy relief bill including spending for projects in Alaska and Puerto Rico).

Start eliminating federal agencies until the budget is balanced. Begin with: Homeland security, ATF, FEMA, Energy Department, Department of Education, Housing administration, Housing finance agency and on and on until the budget is balanced. Cut the first ladies budget and the first families’ extravagance and you could go a long way in balancing the budget right there.

Letting the Debt Ceiling rise in not that important. I believetha government must reduce size the Bloated Departments. Also congress must review and approve. I have no problem with the FAA and NTSB. The Whitehouse must be reduced to 400. If it wasgood enough fo Bush, then it should be good enough for any one else. Relating to Firearm Safety, the "Gun Free Zone" must be taken off, except where it applies to Court Houses, who have Security and secure Checkrooms. So many in Congress do not understand theFBI crime reports. Background Checks do need strengethed: How did President Obana get a security clearance in time to run for President, when he could not get one as a Senator .

The most reasonable plan I've seen so far is the Mr. Mack's bill H.R. 1848. It's balanced and cuts 1 penny for every dollar of spending over a 6 year period, at which point the budget will be balanced (in theory). I see no reason why H.R. 1848 did not receive overwhelming support in both the house and senate. It is not draconian by implementing massive spending cuts at a time when the economy can not handle massive cuts. It is certainly "more" than reasonable. It should be passed as a bill with "no" pork added and without hesitation. The height of irresponsiblity was not passing this 1 penny cut for every dollar spent...

Just as a household must live within its income, so must the government, or creditors will come and request monies due. Consequences come from actions whether something is done or not. The principles that govern money are the same for a household as they are for a government. As a household must live within the income received, so must a government. No budget should be accepted that includes deliberate debt. Unlike some would have you believe, there is no such thing as good debt. All debt is debt-you are beholden to someone else until it is paid off. In very rare instances, it is a necessary evil and that would only be in the case of obtaining a modest home, well within an income one could afford, and even then, pay off as soon as one is able. I was fortunate enough to have parents that understood the principles that govern money and taught that principle to me. In a nutshell, DO NOT EVER spend more than you make. DO NOT MAKE PURCHASES WHEN YOU DO NOT HAVE THE CASH TO PAY FOR THEM. In other words, do not count your chickens before they are hatched. SAVE MONEY FOR A RAINY DAY. Income must be saved for times when jobs are not available. Having grandparents that lived through the depression taught the importance of that principle. The government must not ever approve of a budget that is not balanced and raising the debt ceiling is only prolonging the inevitable collapse of the American Dollar. The only way to stop the insanity is to bring back gold and silver as our standard and stop the printing of money which is the root cause of inflation. Will it hurt the economy. In the short run, yes, In the long run, no-it is the only solution. It always hurts when one is out of control with spending and has to reign in the expenses to include only the essentials. In a household's case, this would be food, shelter and clothing. In the American Governments case, the responsibility is clearly outlined in the Constitution. Please, do not confuse the "general welfare" clause with providing everything for certain people. For a true understanding of what the founding fathers meant by that statement, read the book, "The Making of America" by Cleon Skousen, as well as "The 5000 Year Leap." In the long run, starting now to be responsible adults with our spending and limiting the spending to balance with our income to include savings is true freedom and liberty.

we got here by making wrong turns. that's how you usually get lost, isn' it ? when the American auto industry was having trouble competing with the imports we imposed an import tax or tariff and this convinced foreign auto makers that it was in their best interest to build their plants on American soil. not learning a valuable lesson from this, someone came up with the North American free trade agreement. i can only describe this as plain stupid, yet it received bi-partisan support enough to pass. it equaled to the export of good manufacturing jobs out of the country. this in turn started the erosion of our tax base. it did have another end result, making the rich, richer, and eroding the middle income. we still had enough tax revenue coming in to keep the country afloat. the people running the show said to themselves, what can we do to screw this up ? i know, a couple of more wrong turns ! lets have major tax cuts and start a war that we will have to borrow money for to fight. this might not be enough to ruin the country so lets pass some more job stealing "free" trade agreements. screwing the average citizen,but, again making the rich, richer. now we're burying our selves in debt, losing revenue, destroying lives, ruining the American dream, letting illegals pour into the country, raising unemployment rates and just plain destroying the country. if that isn't bad enough, we ruin our world wide credibility by starting an unjust war in Iraq. now how can we make things even worse ? another wrong turn ! lets hire a bunch more sub-standard sub-contractors ! we can even use them for security ! IDIOTS !!! so, the question is, what are you going to do about it ? the election should give you a rough idea as to what the average American wants you to do. RAISE REVENUE, SEAL OUR BORDERS, REPEAL ALL FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, RAISE REVENUE, CUT FOREIGN AID, EXPEL ALL ILLEGALS, RAISE REVENUE !!! initiate a border crossing fee for all who cross our border to help pay for security. create a national lottery with lots of 100k winners rather than a few multi- million dollar winners. legalise and tax marijuana but not to the extent that there is still profits for those who sell it untaxed. inspect ALL cargo coming into this country. now that's job creation. dump the sub-contractor mentality. properly fund the e.p.a.,f.d.a.,o.s.h.a., etc so they can do the jobs they were designed to do. for the sake of this country and it's citizens, especially our VETERANS, do something !!! repeal all bush era income tax cuts for individuals making more than 150k. RAISE REVENUE ! didn't the election teach anyone anything ?

Congress should raise the debt ceiling. As to cuts in spending Congress should lead the cuts by :1) cutting their own spending as to staff, interns, expenses etc. 2) Cut our foreign aid, it does not make sense to borrow and the give aid, esp. to countries that do not look on us favorably, when are we going to learn we cannot buy friends or respect!

we got here by making wrong turns. that's how you usually get lost, isn' it ? when the American auto industry was having trouble competing with the imports we imposed an import tax or tariff and this convinced foreign auto makers that it was in their best interest to build their plants on American soil. not learning a valuable lesson from this, someone came up with the North American free trade agreement. i can only describe this as plain stupid, yet it received bi-partisan support enough to pass. it equaled to the export of good manufacturing jobs out of the country. this in turn started the erosion of our tax base. it did have another end result, making the rich, richer, and eroding the middle income. we still had enough tax revenue coming in to keep the country afloat. the people running the show said to themselves, what can we do to screw this up ? i know, a couple of more wrong turns ! lets have major tax cuts and start a war that we will have to borrow money for to fight. this might not be enough to ruin the country so lets pass some more job stealing "free" trade agreements. screwing the average citizen,but, again making the rich, richer. now we're burying our selves in debt, losing revenue, destroying lives, ruining the American dream, letting illegals pour into the country, raising unemployment rates and just plain destroying the country. if that isn't bad enough, we ruin our world wide credibility by starting an unjust war in Iraq. now how can we make things even worse ? another wrong turn ! lets hire a bunch more sub-standard sub-contractors ! we can even use them for security ! IDIOTS !!! so, the question is, what are you going to do about it ? the election should give you a rough idea as to what the average American wants you to do. RAISE REVENUE, SEAL OUR BORDERS, REPEAL ALL FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS, RAISE REVENUE, CUT FOREIGN AID, EXPEL ALL ILLEGALS, RAISE REVENUE !!! initiate a border crossing fee for all who cross our border to help pay for security. create a national lottery with lots of 100k winners rather than a few multi- million dollar winners. legalise and tax marijuana but not to the extent that there is still profits for those who sell it untaxed. inspect ALL cargo coming into this country. now that's job creation. dump the sub-contractor mentality. properly fund the e.p.a.,f.d.a.,o.s.h.a., etc so they can do the jobs they were designed to do. for the sake of this country and it's citizens, especially our VETERANS, do something !!! repeal all bush era income tax cuts for individuals making more than 150k. RAISE REVENUE ! didn't the election teach anyone anything ?

Congress should oppose raising the debt ceiling which during the Obama administration was raised many times accruing 16 trillion in debt. Congress should also not default in any of the nation's bills but pay off the small ones and have the big ones negotiated with her creditors. With revenue still coming--taxes and other source of income are still in place--I don't see how this will affect America's borrowing power. But it is mandatory, to reduce the deficit, to have a balanced budget the constitution demands, spending, frivolous or otherwise must stop. If present revenue is insufficient to pay the indebtedness, it is obvious that what had to be spent is borrowed money which doesn't fill the hole the nation is in but deepens it, not to mention foolish and unwise. At present, America has compromised her sovereignty to China who is her biggest creditor by allowing her to set up, if not buy land, from Texas and Idaho, in the name of creating jobs (5% for the US, 95% for China) made possible by America's position of indebtedness, begging China not to demand payment resulting in this acquiescence. Even now, the Obama administration continues to dole out tax payer dollars to mythological green energy in the billions! I have always contented that this President is a charlatan and has no concern for America's welfare but only his grab for power enabled by his Czar's proven by his executive orders and continued arrogance and lack of humility, even in his effort to continue to divide the GOP and the nation. He has done nothing good for the country.

An I indicate rise in debt ceiling with significant reductions then oppose any further increase and pay most important bills first in the future. We must get a handle on spending.

No debit increase and balance the budget. Do not be affraid to stand up for what is right! 47% of the nation on gov programs, how shamefull. Cut social programs and wastfull gov spending and balance the budget. How about some common sense governing for a change.

After all this time to work out a compromise without success, Congress and the Senate should work without salary. As a group you have not done what you were sent to Washington to do. We have endured two wars without any tax increase to fund them. The debts have been incurred. The debt ceiling should be increased to cover your debts. Pay your staff but not yourselves until you as a group can reach a compromise. Every single American has had to do with less...we expect more from you

The United States should absolutely not raise the debt limit. The times call for new creativity, and new protocol. To save America at this point, calls for a fresh approach -- out with the status quo. We should be required to operate on a budget. The President should be required to have a budget. Cut the fat! Stop the government(the President) from intentionally collapsing our economy and stealing from the American people. Allow the Federal government to close down for a few days, if necessary. It is time to beat him at his own game; but to do that we must stand up & fight together. Where is the American courage and ingenuity, the hard, fast Christian principles that define America? We have sat down and allowed the enemy among us to destroy this great country long enough. Enough!

Thomas G, as usual a tip of my hat to you. And I would like to add that there are no statesmen any longer in the Republican Party, only extreme partisans. Former senator Simpson was probably the last of a dying breed of common sense moderates, although I have some high hopes for Governor Christie. The old GOP has vanished beyond recall, replaced by ultra-conservatives pledged to Grover Norquist and the Tea Party. Those Republicans in safe districts, like District 4, are afraid of a primary challenge from those even more radical than they are -- so they just keep tacking further and further to the right and hope we don't get it.

Thank you for finally asking a question of the week that has a MAJOR impact. And unfortunately the FOUNDING FATHERS were Whigs (Decentralized, individualists and states) and Federalists ( A centralized government...which controls all) and NOT Republican (Conservative MORAL views) or Democrat (Progressive MORAL Views)...Please note, that the founding fathers were concerned with the governing of the government , NOT governing Social and Moral issues.....and to be a member of their party, you didn't have to "drink the Kool-Aid" of either party or be ostracized from that party. That is Political Reality of today. Neither party is representing my views because they are both being "Stubborn as an Ol' Mule" Having digressed, back to the debt ceiling. Didn't YOU, not we the people, just have this discussion last Feb, then Dec, now Feb, and if this doesn't work talking again in May????? Here it is, the last time this happened, 1994/5 I believe, no one missed any checks as the fear mongering media would like us to believe......and secondly, the FED is already raiding my pension fund as a civil service employee, which is a FELONY in the private sector.......So why don't we ask Harry Reid, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine to do THEIR Constitional duty along with POTUS to SUBMIT an Annual BUDGET after 4 1/2 years of governing pay check to pay check. THEN you can determine first, as I stated last week, what AGENCIES we have doing duplicitous work, which consolidation of those agencies were promised by Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, POTUS, John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell ad infinitum. Instead of CONSOLIDATING, The U.S. Senate, as well as the U.S. House, two separate bodies, making up one branch, legislative,controlled by TWO separate parties which in turn complete a governing body known as CONGRESS (which is not just the U.S. House) and CONGRESS just keeps creating MORE duplicitous agencies, committess, boards, etc.....CONGRESS, YES, BOTH Republicans and Democrats, have become complicit in acting SURPRISED like the person at the bank who states "I still have money because I still have checks"...Well, with no BUDGET and only CR's and STOP GAPS, even the checks you are writing are almost fraudulent since the FED RESERVE, which isn't even governed by CONGRESS, and The U.S. Treasury raiding the civil servants pension fund for $200 billion dollars is again, criminal in and of itself.......Everyone talking constitutionality here, so let the SENATE, propose a budget, required by the Constitution, if the House and the POTUS don't like it, vote it down and or Veto, whichever, turn it takes, and then remain in Session until BUDGET is PASSED , THEN SEE how much the ceiling needs to be raised. To restate it members of both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate and POTUS.................."DO THE MATH"..........PLEASE................I think all those reading your blog, both Democrats and Republicans could agree that that is a common sense approach. The same one at the "kitchen table" that is a "bipartisan" phrase politicians and their media sidekicks like to use. Stop blaming. Remember everyone, when you are "pointing your finger, at someone, three more are pointing back at you............

I support what Charles Krauthammer suggested on Special Report with Brett Baier. Looks like many others in the house do as well. 3 months of increased debt ceiling at a time in exchange for reasonable actions on their part, starting with making the senate produce a budget. Once they commit to a budget we can keep chipping away at it in 3 month increments. Forcing the administration to do what it's required by law to do anyway, and "nibbling" at the problem means we can break off small chunks that everyone can live with. It doesn't solve the issues that people are deeply divided over but it is at lease progress that can be achieved with only 33% of the government in the hands of people who care about the debt problem.

The U.S. government musy pay it's debts to remain credible. We must also get our spending under control to remain solvent. The debt ceiling is going to go up, just do it without gimmicks.

I agree with the Heritage Foundation. We should engage in “real-time budgeting” and prioritize federal spending to allocate incoming funds to the government’s highest priorities - interest on the debt, national security, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid – and then applying the rest to any discretionary items. Everyone knows there is a great deal of pork in government spending. Also, I believe there should be a law requiring a balanced budget. And obviously, you have to have one to make it balanced. As an added note, the first spending halts under these circumstances, should be the pay for all of congress and the President and the VP. If they are not doing their job, they should be the ones to not get paid! While I'm expressing my opinion, no incumbent should be eligible to be re-elected if there is not a balanced budget. It is time we hold our elected officials responsible for performing there jobs. Their should also be a law declaring that Congress cannot pass any law for the people, that excludes them. I am so disappointed in this government's inability to manage our country "for the people".

The debt ceiling must be raised, without conditions, to preserve the full faith and credit of the United States of America. Seriously Randy, have you forgotten what happened the last time you registered a protest vote against raising the debt ceiling? The time will come to negotiate cuts in spending, but this is not that time. When that time does come, you must ask yourself - Why are we spending more on national defense than the next 13 countries COMBINED? How many nations are we defending? As for social security, it was never intended to be a retirement plan. It was supposed to keep the elderly and disabled out of abject poverty. When it was instituted, the average life expectancy was 61, much lower than it is today. There were also many more individuals contributing to the program than there were individuals drawing from the program. As bad as the situation with social security has become, it pales in comparison to the problems with Medicare and Medicaid. Exploding health care (not sure why we call it health care when it is more accurately described as sick care) costs threaten our ability to pay for these programs. What is your position ? - rather than allow the government to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers, you would have elderly Americans go out into the private market to try to find insurance. Any idea what that would cost a couple over the age of 65? Do us all a favor, Randy - try to be realistic for a change. We all know that the debt has spiraled out of control. We also know that the problem was created on your watch while we entered into 2 wars (which were kept off of the balance sheet to hide the cost) while cutting taxes at the same time. While we were at it, we added Medicare Part D. And, just for good measure, we gave the financial industry carte blanche to write loans that could never be repaid, bundle these into securities to pass the risk of default on to others, and place bets against the securities through credit default swaps. This lethal combination brought the financial system to its knees in 2007. All of these issues put us on a path to fiscal ruin ON YOUR WATCH under a republican president. I'm no great fan of the current president, but you and your party left him one hell of a mess to clean up. Many of the debts incurred since 2008 have been directly related to cleaning up that mess. Paying our debts is not a partisan issue. This is an American issue. Raise the debt ceiling and then try something novel - doing your job. Simpson-Bowles provided the necessay framework, it is time act on it.

I understand and believe we need to pay our bills. Spending cuts must start so we stop creating bills. Families nor business can live off credit. Please do not raise the debt more than 600 billion or 1/10 of the debt when Obama took office. Why? US Treasury spends one billion dollars per day on National Debt interest. I'd rather see that money go to Defense, education and NASA than our debt holders like China. Please no more than 600 billion with out cutting defense or education.

I am opposed to increasing the debt ceiling. We should not have to default on a thing but the retirement funds for Congress and stop spending money overseas on issues that do not pay our bills. I like the idea of shutting down the Government and making it smaller. I want Obamacare canned and the Medicare Strengthened. I want our borders patrolled by our Military and the laws we have in place enforced. I want Executive Orders not to be an option. I want to vote for the President, not the Electoral College. I want our Military to come home and quit worrying about the Middle East. I want a lot of things, but I don't seem to get anything I want lately. Randy Forbes is about the only thing I can agree on. I am glad you are there in the House Representing us in Virginia, but our voice seems to be very small. I find the question you have asked in your survey to be vague and not giving enough information for to me a true decision. I trust you know what is going on . God Bless America and I will continue to pray for us.

Three days ago I saw a television news report where President Obama likened the debt ceiling question to a couple that went to a fancy restaurant for dinner. His question was, "Shouldn’t we pay for the dinner we just finished?" My question to the President, "If we cannot afford dinner at any restaurant, should we be going out to eat?" I compare Congress raising the debt limit to getting an increased limit on my credit card. Unlike Congress, I cannot unilaterally increase my own credit card limit. If I cannot make timely payments on my credit cards, not only is my credit limit not raised, but my use of the card may be limited by the bank that issued the card. We, the people of these United States, must be willing to stand up and stop unsustainable spending. Every person in both the House and the Senate has said at some point in their campaigns, “Vote for me because I can fix the problem.” The time has come for every member in both the House and Senate, no matter their party of political persuasion, to stop pointing the finger of blame at anybody else and FIX THE PROBLEM!

Our Political leaders have and continually forget the reason they were elected to office, that they are there to serve the people and not themselves. If it is not politically addvantagist to themselves they don't make any effort to find out what is best for the people that elected them to office. I saw Harry Reid on a TV news show bragging how he used ear marks to get things for the state of Nevada. This totally made me angry that he would circumvevt the system in order to get him things that he could use for political bragging rights. This system has establisted itself in the minds of politiions of how to get things done. Not by debate in both houses of congress and agreement by both houses as best for the people that elected them

I do not believe there is a simple to answer to resolving the debt issue. As a citizen I can call my creditors and request an increase in borrowing power which if I were credible I am likely to make happen. But I also know that this is a short-term solution that necessitates cutting back on spending. If I do not, it is only a matter of time before I hit my new borrowing limit. Then I am in a worse place than when I started. Congress and the Senate are no different in how they should run the government for us citizens. First order of business should be to pass a budget. It has been too long not having some sort of basis for operating. Next should be ending pork barrel spending and provide either House or Congress the ability to veto portions of a bill that clearly fall into this category. It appalled me that the Bill for Sandy Relief was riddled with constituent bribery so that the bill could get their yes vote. They might think they are serving the interests the people that they represent but it is time to take a broader view and put self interest aside. To conclude I feel that raising the debt ceiling is needed but not with some cuts in spending. Does not have to be significant now but as a nation we have to start somewhere and then gain traction. All congress and the senate seem to be doing is spinning their wheels.

Conceptually I would support not raising the debt ceiling and focusing on the highest priorities. However, I would need to understand what congress considered a priority. It is unrealistic to continue to spend money the country doesn't have. We have to stay within our budget just like most of American families must do. Unfortunately, I am not sure all of Congress and the American people agree on what the priorities are. I would like our leaders to offer a vision of fiscal responsibility citizens who contribute to the economy can support. If we must allow a small increase in the ceiling to prevent a catastrophe like our service men and women not getting paid then I may support it. However, there must be a clear justification and accountability plan for quickly repaying what we borrow. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Any Representative that voted for any of the spending requiring us to go over the debt limit should feel compelled to vote to increasing the debt limit.

I have no problem with spending cuts but who decides what and who's programs get paid with priority. Congress, small business owners, or financial institutions? Who makes the decisions during a recovery?

The only answer to balancing the budget is to create millions of new jobs, But how? The answer may be no farther than that of our military and the items they use. Through recent history, things that were originally created for military use were later recreated for commercial purposes. We had our highway system built to be used to transport items for the military. Today, there are huge commercial uses at areas where these highways are built. The cell phone technologies and the Internet breakthroughs were originally built for the military and we now have expanded for business use. Are there other things used by the military that can solve today's society and business challenges? If we can redevelop these items that are used by the military into something else, perhaps thousands of new jobs could be created in manufacturing these products. 1) Currently there are great breakthroughs in drone technologies. Can there be other uses of drone technologies to solving problems that would make sense? For example, they are already using heavy lifting drone helicopters to move supplies into Afghanistan. Can these drone helicopters be used for the following? a) Can these drones be used to move food and water to places where there are no developed roads and bridges in very impoverished parts of the world? We must include better food security to help promote worldwide peace. Did you know 40-60 percent of all food produced is wasted? Just Google it. Sometimes this food goes to waste due to impassable roads. Can new drone helicopters be used to airlift this food to where it is needed the most? Even if we can lower this food waste by just 10 percent, we will feed millions of more people. Then we could teach the locals how to farm and raise livestock from these new goods airlifted afterwards. By using an army of drones to reduce world hunger, will speak volumes across the Internet. Thus may increase the standing of the US across the world. b) Utilize these new heavy lifting drone helicopters to be used to pre-position emergency supplies before a major super storm is about to occur in our great nation. There are automatic warehouses that use robots to fill shipping/trucking containers in record time. Then wherever these storms are about 48-72 hours from crossing our shoreline; these warehouses will fill these containers with emergency supplies. Then the drones will airlift these containers to open air areas, like school grounds, parks and large empty parking lots. Then emergency personnel could distribute these supplies from the back of these shipping/trucking containers. Some items, like generators, could be sold to people. Emergency personnel could utilize those new smart phones credit card readers to process payments. c) Utilize those drones to help put out wildfires when they occur. Perhaps there could be several of those drone helicopters produced for the same price as one regular piloted helicopter. Then those multiple drones could carry that many more fire resistant chemicals in the same time frame. Then we may better contain those fires faster. d) Utilize those drones to air lift electrical line robots to places where lines are down after a major storm. Can researchers develop better robots to do such work? Then these drones will simply lift then lower these robots onto useful places to where it will do the most good. This may help speed the process to get power back on faster, like places after super storm Sandy and for other future disasters... Perhaps, there other uses of the heavy lifting drone helicopters that I missed. 2) Utilize those navy ships that are being retired to be used as temporary housing and/or hospital purposes. Utilize large cargo ships for emergency supplies, as well. These ships could be docked just offshore after major earthquakes or major hurricanes. Military helicopters, including drones, could air lift supplies from the cargo ships to open air areas. Then other helicopters could air lift the injured from the open-air areas back to the hospital ships. People without homes on shore could reside in temporary housing on the now retired Navy ships. Are there other items used by the military today that can be remade into something later for commercial purposes? Then like the highway system, cell phones technology and the Internet that are now used in the private sector. Perhaps we only need to look no further than that sector to create thousands of new American jobs remaking these items for commercial use. The more jobs created is the more likelyhood we will balance the budget. These ideas above may help do this.

How can we control our spending if we don't have a budget to establish a framework first?Congress (The house and Senate) and the President must first do the job they were elected to and not be distracted by all the partisanship, they were elected to represent us their constituents not the political party they associate with. PASS a realistic budget, CONTROL spending, PAY the debt down. This is the biggest threat to our nation.

I support increasing the debt ceiling with spending cuts, however it seems the targets on Medicare and S.S. before anything else. This I would not support.

We should pay our creditors for debts incurred in good faith as long as we can. This should be considered a high priority. According to most reports, this can be done without raising the debt ceiling, but to do so obviously will require serious cutbacks in spending. I agree with the Heritage Foundation comments about prioritizing, with the added proviso that even those high priority functions must bear some of the load. It is not credible to assert that any government activity (or business activity for that matter) is completely free of inefficiency. The cavalier and self-serving attitude of most current elected officials and beuracrats in Washington is mind-boggling. I hope our few good representatives will find a way to overcome it, but I suspect they will be unable and our country will continue its drift toward mediocraty.

Do not raise the debt limit!!! If the limit is raised, the feds in Washington will just spend more and put us further in debt. Like us taxpayers, the federal government must learn to live within a budget and prioritize the repayment of existing debt accordingly. This includes replacing the 4 trillion dollars "borrowed" from Social Security over the years since 1966 to pay for LBJ's "Great Society" and other "pet projects" that both parties in government have implemented that do not generate income and does not reflect what the Founding Fathers believed to be the responsibility of government. Get back to the basics and reduce, not expand our federal government. Thank you Congressman Forbes.

It appears Americans have fallen silent and only the political parties are making their voices heard. We become Americans at times like 9/11, Newtown,CT, Hurricane Sandy; but three days later we're back to cheering on our team's quarterback and trying to destroy the opposition. I was raised in an American town and had a pretty typical American upbringing. I've learned enough of life's lessons to know it doesn't matter which party you belong to, all Americans lose when politicians convince you it's the "other guy" blocking progress. When you're helping to carry a stretcher to get an injured person into an ambulance you don't stop to ask what party the person on the other end belongs to, you work together to get the victim to safety. We can either start working together now to solve our financial problems or we can wait until it becomes an emergency and start working together in the soup kitchens.

The first thing that should happen Congress, Senators, House of Representatives, and Secret Service should take at least a 15% - 30% pay cut. Government paid celebrations should stop. Washington DC and Porter Rico should be made to pay taxes voting not an option or the looae their government perks period. . The extra funding for rent the government pays to the these Congressmen, Senators. Etc for the Secret Service to stay on site should immediately cease. They want protection it shouldn't cost us extra. The ceiling should not be raised and funding should not be cut to all major government plans. The food stamp program needs to be treated like the WIC program. There should be a time limit to the higher end of the bracket to be on it. The food and other supplies for these should be under the children's name instead of the parents. Government Holidays should not be paid except Christmas, New Years and 4th of July if not on a weekend. Excuses need to STOP!!! The money this country wastes in a day would feed a 3rd World Country for a year!!

Spending needs to be cut. Right off the bat two areas requiring cuts are corporate welfare and defense. No profitable corporation requires tax dollars...period. Can't make it any clearer then that. Defense spending is out of control. A recent article I read reported 40% of the Air Force budget goes to civilian employees. Last time I checked the Air Force had responsibility for securing air and space in America's defense. So why does 40% of their budget pay for civilians that don't deploy to defend America? The AF active duty was cut from more than 360K to about 330K personnel. Savings realized zero. Because these deployable active duty positions were transferred to civilian desk jockey positions that only serve to increase red tape. Where should defense cuts be made, start with civilian staff positions at the HQ level. Think about this, a 50% cut in civilian staffing increases the AF budget by 20%. That's more money to support active duty personnel, weapons procurement and sustainment without sending one more dollar to the DoD. Do the right thing and look into excessive civilian manning at the HQ level. You'll uncover massive waste. Cutting civilian staffing is a great place to reduce spending and save the DoD from itself.

our goverment needs to stop spending money we don't have and giving away money to countries for any reasons from wwII to today, one way to reduce goverment spending is get a grip on out of control spending like congress giving themselves a raise, they don't deserve to end of year spending by all branches of the goverment agencies, purchasing unneened and necessary items. we the people know they all do or they won't receive the same amount the following year. next pass term limints just like the office of the President. next a complete reveiw of our complete budget and where it goes, put on cpan. next I would like to suggest people should be able to vote on every day proceedings going on via our elected 0fficials by using e-mail or the use of a app. with all the electronics now at our finger tips this doesn't seem unreasonable suggestion, I beleave this might help get the work done that needs to be done, this may help do what, We The People want done and stop behind closed door deales.

Indeed, how to manage the national debt…who possesses the “right answer,” and an answer that is for the good of all? It is in my humble opinion that data gleaned from an electronic poll, which is a passive instrument and one that is not necessarily credible as the author of each response may or may not be authenticate does not necessarily provide accurate indicators as to how the general populace truthfully believes. Nevertheless, I truly believe that electronic polling bears strategic information and can be invaluable in establishing “groundwork” towards improving our government’s policies. Thank you Randy, for invoking technology into the “mainstream” of governmental thought on an individual level never known to mankind before. In my mind, eMail is a necessity towards understanding what “America has to say.” It is my belief that of the choices provided within the National Debt poll, there is not an option provided that will lend itself towards resolving the dilemma by itself. The resolution towards sensible-managing of this historic and unprecedented national woe will require an act that is a conglomeration of the initial three choices. I do not believe I am naïve enough to expect any single action will absolve the “monstrous” and detrimental national debt. I am convinced the attention towards thwarting the national debt’s negative connotations mandates a focus from all citizens on the order akin to our nation solving past significant events e.g., Civil Rights, Slavery, the Depression, World War II, the Space Race, Communism are a few of our nation’s triumphs. Eroding the national debt to healthy economical level for our proud county must be dealt as such. I do not believe option one is realistically an option that our government will take the time to understand and follow. There will be much discussion, both constructive and divergent towards defining what “significant spending cuts” are to mean. I believe there will be much wasted time and effort in defining in legal terms “significant cuts” and thus further impede economic recovery. Option two in my mind is not an example I earnestly believe is good for our families to be led as an acceptable practice. Families utilize as much “common sense” in managing their finances. We are taught (sometimes painfully when dealing with creditors) to pay our bills, plan for the future, and save “for rainy days.” Families are not typically afforded the option to pay whom they want and forget about the bills they deem not payable. We must plan for the future as well, i.e., anticipated job loss, ill-health, college, specialized schools, etc. As such, if a family desires to procure an item that is unaffordable at the time, they will enact budgetary plans to either obtain the item later or strive for a comparable one. Inattention to financial debt by a family results in negative marks against their credit, damage to the family name and loss of pride in themselves, which is not a desired mark for any family. Option three in my mind is not within the confines of the “spirit of democracy” nor sustains the free business enterprise system. Our nation paying its bills is paramount with regard to maintaining strong economic growth within our borders, and in the eyes of the world. Our nation cannot blindly fall into the identical situation in which the country of Greece tragically found themselves. Our nation will not be able to recover from such a catastrophe and remain as it stands today. Mandating measures without the consensus of the American people is not by any means what our founding forefathers had envision through their personal sacrifices in establishing our great country. The U.S. government need not fund every program imaginable for our country; challenge each state in our great nation to take care of their areas of governorship. Our national government must seriously work with the money they have and not the money imagined. If the United States cannot pay off its debts, I am confident other rival countries would love to take over and show us how e.g., China. Terminating unnecessary national programs to pay off our debts is a daunting task indeed however, akin to gathering citizen’s viewpoints e.g., this poll, regarding national affairs via technology, our citizens can actively engage themselves towards making their voice heard to Congress as to what programs must be ceased for the good of our nation’s future. Utilizing the Internet (although credible sources must be carefully sought) I found the following link regarding potential programs that warrants serious consideration: http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/ In conclusion, (this is my first blog post, sorry for the “soap-box” sermon, but this issue is important to me, my family, and those who love this country…current and future citizens), to me the “common-man” approach is to terminate “wasteful,” outdated, special interest groups, i.e., not supportive of the “American Dream” to all of its citizens. Similarly, I do not believe expecting “the rich” to pay off the national debt is the “right thing to do” as I believe it will curtail ambitions for the American citizen to pursue their rights of life, liberty and happiness. No single entity should bear the brunt of reducing the national debt. It is a burden for all American citizens to bear and resolve…not the one. Thank you for taking the time in reading my thoughts, God bless you, and may God continue blessing the United States of America.

Pay the bills and stop trying to kick the can down the road yet again. How do you think the my bank or credit companies would react if I tell them I will not pay them what is owe to them until I can get my budget together and cut back expenses? Really!!!!!!! Stop playing games and pay the bills. I think we are all in agreement that government cuts need to happen, so act like adults and sit down to make it happen. Compromise is the key word.

We cannot afford to continue to raise our debt limit in order to pay for wasteful government spending. Mom and Pop America cannot raise their credit limit each time they reach their credit limit. This is viewed by anyone with money sense as a wreck less money habit and the fact that we keep our debt at our “credit limit” is equally wreck less. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are being used as conduit of escape to dodge the real government issues. Slightly off topic, we need to revamp our immigration policies because these policies are slowly converting our Republic into a socialist, welfare state. We should not be arbitrarily providing citizenship to aliens born in this country. Once they are born they are automatically eligible for welfare and other government aid; and in turn, their parent is allowed to stay in our country as a caregiver. I won’t even speak on the free healthcare they receive, but it stacks onto the additional cost to the American people and government. This misuse of our government aid is exponentially increasing and will continue to drive our nation further into debt. Another example of misuse is from my 1st hand knowledge of police responding to a call for a dead baby, and when they arrive they see the dead baby in the bedroom. The parents and friend are in the living room getting high, and their welfare check stubs are on the kitchen table. There was no clothing in sight for the child, and there was no note of food for the child. In both incidences these groups are massing to ensure the legislation passes measures to allow them to continue their disgusting, wreck less, entitlement lifestyle. I will close in saying that socialist societies crumble when the “haves” quit working for the “have-nots”.

The key is that we need to create a balanced federal budget that is sustainable. That means we must spend the same or less than we collect in taxes. Repeatedly raising the debt ceiling appears to delay inevitable proper budget management and makes it harder and harder to attain a sustainable balanced federal budget. So, the time is now to recognize this challenge and work together to resolve the matter. A short term ceiling increase (to avoid default) therefore MUST be accompanied by mature budget creation and management. Thanks for asking!

T. Bellamy, you are so correct! But the Republican controlled House kicked it again.

I work for the federal goverment and I haven't had a cost of living wage increase in 4yrs. and now it looks like it's going to be 5yrs. or longer. The least congress could do it cut spending the same as I, cause the cost of living has surely!!!!!!!!!!RAISAN! hELP A BROTHER OUT, CUT SPENDING OR GIVE ME A RAISE!

Hilary Clinton with the help of Senate and House of Rep. ran the clock out without saying anything . No one has been held accountable for the four dead Americans.

If the ELECTED FOOLS we put in office did what they are PAID for thc country would not be in line to become another nation that reached it's peek and then declined

The problem with America is that we now have more people looking for handouts (read special interest) than people that are produtive citizens. And, the handout people get to vote just like the productive folks. American is where it is because the politicians are pandering to the handout folks and crushing the rest of us.

We are always hearing how the Federal Govt. is out of money yet when a catastrophy happens somewhere else in the world we have to be the first to lend aid. I think this should be stopped. We have enough problems in our country that need to be fixed first, and as a taxpayer I can say we don't need the extra burden put on us to fix everyone elses problems worldwide. I have a set amount of money to make a budget with and it has to work, the government has shown us it can do as it wants to with regard to spending our tax dollars as it sees fit and if there is not enough it will find more by going more in debt which means somewhere taxes will be raised. Serving in the goverment should be a honor not a career. No one should be retiring from elected positions, term limits should be set, health care should be the same as we tax payers have to use. There is no reason that there should be a budget deficit and Pres. Obama and congress has to be put on a short leash when it comes to spending. These are poor economic times and we all have to tighten our belts. I personnally have been out of work since Dec. 31st due to a workforce reduction in the company I worked for. My budget was cut by over half and I still have to manage to balance my budget.