• CuriousRefugee@lemmy.ml
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    1 month ago

    We could avoid this entirely, but the idiot Congress LIKES it. I don’t think any other country has a debt ceiling like the US. Why? Well, because when another country’s government (legislature, dictator, voodoo shaman) authorizes spending on something, they also authorize paying for it.

    But in the US, Congress says (to the executive branch) you can only collect 50 bajillion in taxes, no more, no less. Also, you have to spend 55 bajillion on these programs, no more, no less. Then the president says, “uh, okay, but I’ll need to borrow 5 bajillion to do that because of math.” In reply, Congress stamps its collective foot like a toddler and says “NO NO NO YOU HAVE TO ASK US FIRST! Why are you drowning this poor country in debt you spendthrift!”

    • Rekhyt@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      This isn’t the debt ceiling, this is the government funding bills, aka what they are budgeting for departments (that will then eventually require the debt ceiling to be raised because it’s still a deficit)