Editor:

So, here we go again! U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell says, “We will raise the debt ceiling,” but timing is unclear. 

Déjà vu, how many times — with former President Barack Obama and a weak-kneed legislature full of establishment politicians who didn’t get it done?

Instead they wrote (and write) articles that fallaciously threaten Social Security and other benefits folks paid into the treasury to ensure savings for themselves, saying, without an increase, these payments will have to be suspended. Really? These payments are guaranteed (or are supposed to be) and funded by financial agencies outside the standard operations of the treasury.

So, let’s review. Back when U.S. Rep. John Boehner crumbled under the skilled negotiating of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid — who just sat there and said nothing while Boehner negotiated against himself — Congress raised the debt ceiling and — surprise — Americans paid more at the pump, the grocery store and everywhere else since their dollar was worth less. At the same time, newly-elected conservatives argued that any raise in the debt ceiling must be accompanied by a constitutional amendment balancing the budget. But they had no backing from Boehner or a president who would allow such logic.

Now, however, with a president who cares and governs using common sense instead of personal political interests, the same measure would undoubtedly pass. 

So here is the question: Why not couple any increase in the ceiling with a balanced budget amendment? My guess is that the establishment just don’t get it!

Peter Kapuscinski

Dillwyn