What’s the Budget & Debt Battle REALLY All About?

For weeks we’ve been swamped by stories about the gamesmanship, consequences, and possible fallout of the current battle over the budget and debt ceiling. But let’s pause for a minute to look at why we’re here. What’s this whole mess really all about? The answer depends on who you are.

GOP Base
Fed on a steady stream of partisan talking points, the base is genuinely concerned about the debt and what they believe is “out-of-control” spending. Actual facts about the declining debt and Federal spending don’t matter. What matters is what they believe –and they’ve been convinced that the greatest threat to the U.S. is not shutdown or default, but that without drastic action we’re doomed.

They continue to support the GOP’s dangerous tactics because they’ve not only been sold on the righteousness of their cause, but also that the whole crisis is nothing more than scare-mongering by President Obama — that we can, in fact, bust through the debt ceiling unscathed.

…according to Pew, 54 percent of Republican voters think America could breach the debt limit “without major problems.” The base sees the real crisis as some future, Greece-style collapse. That feels more real to them then these spending and shutdown crises that can be easily blamed on President Obama, parlor tricks meant to make Republicans surrender.

“Suicide Caucus”
This group of 80 or so conservative members of both houses forced the GOP’s hand into a hostage situation and have kept the fires stoked. Most are in extremely safe districts and face no electoral threat from Democrats. Although some tea party congressmen now face a backlash by business leaders in their districts looking to recruit more moderate primary challengers, their perception continues to be that you can never be too far right.

These members may, like their constituents, be true believers in the evil of the debt and spending, or they may be political opportunists just out for themselves. Doesn’t matter.  We wouldn’t be here without them; they know it; and that just adds to the problem. It’s their moment in the spotlight, and they’re not going to waste it.

Shadowy Schemers With Deep, Deep Pockets
We’ve known for some time that this conservative faction is tied to and heavily influenced by wealthy patrons. The New York Times this weekend published an in-depth look at just who those funders are and how they’ve brought this moment to fruition.

…the Times’ story breaks new ground by spelling out exactly how deep pocketed donors are using their clout with Republicans in Congress. These donors have made defunding Obamacare a litmus test and have directed intense fire, in the form of TV and Internet ads, against Republicans seen as not falling in line behind this push. 

This stands in contrast to the usual narrative about the government shutdown, along with debt ceiling brinksmanship — which is that it’s all driven by far-right base voters and their reps in the House. […]

Another thing that was so disturbing about that Times piece was the sheer determination of a few wealthy donors to stop millions of Americans from getting healthcare coverage. 

…by the Times’ account the Kochs are spending millions of dollars to scare people away from using Obamacare and stop states from extending Medicaid as part of a broader campaign to stop this already enacted law from going into effect.

So we can thank the Koch brothers, former Attorney General Edwin Meese, and a wide coalition of right-wing groups from Americans For Prosperity to the political action wing of the Heritage Foundation. But this brings up an interesting question: Why would the right expend this much energy and money to topple a law based on a plan originally concocted by the Koch brothers-funded Heritage Foundation as a market-driven approach to healthcare?

Can they really, truly be so against Americans having access to affordable care? Maybe, maybe not. But from their perspective, the problem with Obamacare is that it was enacted by Obama and the Democrats. It’s about power.

Democrats
The truth is that, right now, this battle isn’t about the budget, the debt, or even Obamacare. It’s about democracy and the legitimacy of government.

This is a constitutional crisis – as in Republicans have thrown out the idea of following the Constitution, democracy and law, recognizing only power. Republicans have one power that We the People have not yet managed to take away from them: the power to destroy. And they’re using that power to get what they want for the billionaires and giant corporations who fund them.

If we are going to maintain the idea of government by We the People, using elections and the legislative process and everything else the country is supposed to be about, we can’t let them win again. If they win again, they’ll just escalate.

Were Democrats to cave to any GOP demands at this point, it would not only violate the will of the majority of the American electorate, but would validate and legitimize hostage-taking as a method of governance.

And make no mistake, if Democrats give in this time, the hostage-taking will continue. Next time it will be Social Security, or Medicare, maybe environmental regulations or worker protections… Democrats and the country can’t afford to perpetuate this cycle of hostage crises.

By: Sandi Behrns

Sandi Behrns is a noted policy nerd, new media & web developer, and consultant to progressive organizations and campaigns. She is a senior contributor to Liberaland, and the Executive Editor of Progressive Congress News.