Worldwide Economic Collapse:
Jesus said the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). The thing about the days of Noah is that even in the midst of terrible apostasy, evil, violence, and rebellion against God, the people went ahead with their normal lives. They planted fields, they harvested crops, they built houses, they got married, and they had children. They went about business as usual, until the very day that Noah entered the ark, and then destruction came and took them all away
1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Revelation 13:16-17 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
What national debt? Budget deal shows neither GOP nor Democratic Party cares. US Government ‘kicking the can again down the road.’ It’s Business as Usual.
The Editorial Board, USA TODAY Published 6:38 p.m. ET July 23, 2019 | Updated 3:06 p.m. ET July 24, 2019
At least Trump and Pelosi would prevent a government shutdown for two years. With this dysfunctional government, we’ll take it: Our view.
Remember when Republicans excoriated President Barack Obama in 2009 for his $787 billion stimulus package? Remember when they took the Treasury to the brink of default in 2011 to force spending cuts?
Good. Now, as they say in Brooklyn, fuggetaboutit.
That is the message of the latest budget deal the Trump administration negotiated with Congress. The compromise announced late Monday would add $320 billion in spending over two years and raise the federal debt ceiling.
On an annualized basis, it is a much bigger stimulus package than Obama’s, which was spread over a decade. It comes on top of other spending increases, as well as a tax cut that will reduce government revenue by $1.5 trillion over 10 years.
No wonder the nation is spending $1 trillion a year more than it is collecting, even at a time of relative economic prosperity.
The optics are such that some conservatives are said to be balking at the deal. But, assuming that this deal, or something like it, passes both chambers of Congress and is signed by President Donald Trump, what does it say?
The unavoidable conclusion is that neither party cares one whit about the national debt — now approaching $23 trillion — they are passing along to young Americans and future generations.
Many Republicans rebelled in the 1990s when presidents of both parties, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, sought to put the nation’s books in order. This century, they have screamed loudly about spending and deficits when Democrats held the White House, and run up a tab like drunken sailors during Republican administrations.
Now many Democrats have apparently thrown in the fiscal-responsibility towel as well. Their tone is increasingly being set by progressive presidential candidates such as Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who recommend spending increases in virtually everything but defense.
The good news about this budget deal is that it would prevent a government shutdown or a Treasury default for at least two years. In an era of dysfunctional and polarized government, one has to take one’s little victories where they come.
At times, it seems this generation of politicians has only two modes: acting irresponsibly while threatening mayhem, or simply acting irresponsibly.
The main drivers of government spending are health care and retirement programs. They are on autopilot, with spending going up each year automatically without Congress actually voting on these increases. But substantial changes in benefit programs are not on the table. Nor is there much appetite for tax hikes, which could fill a number of fiscal holes once they stop getting bigger.
Instead, congresses and presidents have periodic fights over the one-third of government spending that actually requires a vote each year. Sometimes these battles include moralizing, brinkmanship and short-term disruption. And sometimes they do not. But all of the time, they take our great nation closer to fiscal ruin.
USA TODAY’s editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view — a unique USA TODAY feature.