The full impact of what has been done has been slowly forming up in my head for the past couple of days. I am sure there are long-ranging nuances that I have not yet thought of, but in the process of gathering my thoughts I see some disturbing things below the surface. Which is scary, considering how disturbing the surface is.
I am going to try to wrap my brain around my thoughts and put them into words, and I am hoping in the comments other Kossacks will be kind enough to correct me where I am wrong and point out logic gaps I am missing and draw conclusions that I haven't considered. This is too big for me to figure out on my own, is what I am saying. But I feel I have made a good start.
These are the key points that are really sticking with me.
1) We have formed a new committee in charge of deficit reduction. This committee will be formed of 6 from each side. The regular rules of the House and Senate will be suspended or changed when considering proposals by the committee. Their proposals get an unamended up or down vote. That must be nice for them...
This is really scary. What it really means, as far as I see it, is what they say goes. We have handed the finances of the government over to 12 people and we have to do what they say. And if we don't, they get to say "Well, ok, but now we are gonna fuck the whole world up." OR they can just not agree (hm....6, 6, you say?) and they still get to fuck up the whole world.
These spots will be more imporant than the SCOTUS spots, and hold more power than anyone in DC. Money makes the world go 'round, and these people make the money go 'round.
2) Committee will be charged with reducing the deficit by some trillions (1.2 to 1.5) of dollars by December 23rd.
What this says to me is that we basically set this up for a Christmas time clusterfuck of epic proportions. This entire fake crisis is going to happen again on Dec 23rd under a different name. Jesus.
3) If they can't agree across the board cuts will be automatic. If I am reading it right, there is no precise definition for "across the board," but these cuts will be split evenly between defense and "other." Medicaid and SS are exempt, but Medicare provider fees are on the table.
Does this beast specify WHERE the defense cuts come from? Because if not, I see it shaking out to "Do what we say or gramma gets less doctors to choose from, schools get less money and the troops won't get paid."
Call it by any other name, this is a coup d'etat by the powerful. They have officially wrested control of the nations money out of the hands of the people and into the hands of what will turn out to be their chosen 12. This committee will be forever, not just for this year.
The US no longer has a government, just an administrative body that does what the bosses tell it to. Of course, for appearances sake they will still be able to debate social issues.
Oh, and when we are all enjoying a nice squirrel sandwich for dinner "our" representatives can say "hey, I wouldn't have cut that. It wasn't my call. I no longer have the power to make that decision."
What have we done?