I think Dr. Paul understands well there is no alternative to raising the debt ceiling. He said it is "predictable." But if he is to stay faithful to his oath, he must continue to expound on its absurdity.

He probably also agrees with your other point -- that the entire Fed central banking system must collapse to achieve change. He's the primary point man for the "end the Fed" movement.

We are blessed to have someone like Ron Paul to keep reality alive in the greater political debates of our times. May more of us start to listen to his message.

Our Fascist Democrats and Republicans are pretending to argue about whether to raise the debt ceiling. In the end they will do so because their owners require it. The phony arguments are to make us believe that we must give up our pensions and savings and health care for the common good. And so the legislation will include "austerity" measures (grand theft). It's just another heist.

We know the Fascists are not concerned about debt. If they were they would not be cutting taxes and increasing war spending.

"Ron Paul has decent ideas, but "he's like a fireman running into a burning building with a hose not connected to a fire hydrant."

Bravo Mr. Cate. Exactly my thought.

With all his years in the U.S. Congress, you would think Ron Paul understood that there is absolutely no alternative, but to continue to run up government deficits.

I will agree with the Congressman that raising the debt ceiling limit is a farce. All raising the debt ceiling does is to formally declare that nothing will change in the way the U.S. Congress spends money. Ron Paul should know it. Nothing will change whether the "Debt Ceiling" is raised or not. Unless the entire Fed central banking system is to collapse, nothing can change.

The post-1935 Fed system, which monitizes government debt and creates an "irredeemable" currency, attempts through certain manipulations to mirror the pre-1935 Fed which was built on the "Real Bills Doctrine" tied to the issuance of a "redeemable" currency.

Congressional "earmarks" to fund projects in Congressional Districts are an essential part of the manipulations. Routinely, 425 out of 435 Representatives of the U.S. House will put in "earmarks" for federal projects in their district. Failure to put in these "earmarks" during the budget process will bring down on the Represenative the wrath of the House Leadership, irrespective of party affiliation.

How can the congressional leadership implore their Representatives to place "earmarks" into the budget, and then asks them to vote for a "Debt Ceiling" to deny the funds for the very projects they had been asked to request?

A few small gov budget cuts between now and the end of the year do not sound catastrophic. Might as well start taking the first steps now! It would probably strengthen the country.

"If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
Anonymous Wall Street
In every country and state, ordinary folks do not have a REAL representative with their interests at heart. Most are just ruling-class want-a-bees, who've already sold their mind, body and soul to the highest bidder. In fact, running for office is the gauntlet they run to proof that they're willing to sell out their fellow countrymen.

This is what needs to come to an end if we're ever going to be able to avoid being permanently "on the menu." That's why the debt-limits, the money-printing, the globalization and other problems continue to this day.
Ordinary folks have little or no representation "at the table!"

Ron Paul has decent ideas, but "he's like a fireman running into a burning building with a hose not connected to a fire hydrant." So says Howard Buffett, Warren's daddy, back in the 40's, about the same circus, different clowns of that era.

Those of you who found Dr. Paul's article of interest should also find these 2 additional articles worthy of your time and attention:
1. "Top Myths on the U.S. Debt-ceiling Crisis"
Click to view link
2. "Raising the Roof - On a Higher Debt Ceiling That Is!"
Click to view link

Dr. Pauls colleagues will posture and strut, demanding a Constitutional ammendment before they will raise the debt limit. This very well may pass in Congress and Obama may sign it, but only if they know there is no chance of the states ratifying it.

If a Constitutional Congress is called by the states to ratify the ammendment it would take months if not years for the process to play out. Plenty of time to kick the can further down the road and the cover to blame the states for the reckless spending. They only need to stall until Nov. 2012.

There is no way any state looking for a handout is going to tie the hands of the Feds.

Good Luck Ron!

Fine rhetoric again Dr. Paul. You say "But like any debtor that has to reduce its spending, the federal government simply needs to establish priorities and stop spending money on anything other than those priorities." I've tried this approach on my family (at the advice of Richard Daughty) and achieved the same results he did; they just tell me to put down the gun, stop fondling my gold coins, take a shower and get a job!

If the American People (tm) would just get off their lazy butts and do a little real work our ever faithful government servants wouldn't have to confront the horror of having their credit cards cut up by evil rat faced sales clerks at the shopping mall and life would, once again, be good.

Raising the debt ceiling without plan to reducing the extravagant spending and increasing budgets and entitilements at 6% a year is like giving a bottle of alcohol to the alcoholic with the goal of quitting his addictive habit.

Yes, the PE is believed to be of Anglo-American origin.
For a good background, I suggest to read Tragedy and Hope and/or The Anglo-American Establishment from Prof. Carroll Quigley (free pdf downloads: Click to view link

Re: We have heard endless warnings about how irresponsible it would be to "shut down the government." The implication is that sober, rational, mature pundits and politicians understand reality, while those who oppose raising the debt ceiling limit are reckless ideologues who will harm the economy just to make a point.

Well put by RP. This is where the MSM and the politicians promote the agenda of the PE.

BTW, elves (anybody?): is the Anglo-American elite the same as the PE?

RP: "It would be easier to deal with the tough choices we face now, on our own terms, rather than wait until we are at the mercy of foreign creditors."

Key point. Foreign creditors have been, for some time been engaged in the take-down of the US financially. Their goal is control which is why they coerce politicians to be reckless under the false pretext of "will of the people" and helping the unfortunate.