Krugman to the rescue

I like Paul Krugman.  Do you know why?  He gives me something to write about.  Why, if it wasn't for him, I might as well take the day off.

So, what's he up to this time?  He's claiming that the Republicans in the House are holding America hostage. How?  By following the Constitution.  Amazing!  How can the House hold us all hostage by following the Constitution?

It so happens that the House has the power of the purse.  In case Krugman didn't know this, here is the appropriate part of the Constitution as follows:

This means that if the House doesn't want to raise revenue, it doesn't have to.  This also means that if the Senate does and the President does, it doesn't matter.  The House has the final say so.  This isn't holding anybody hostage. It just means that they are following the Constitution.  What does Krugman want?  The President to act like Vito Corleone and make an offer they can't refuse?

Well, actually Krugman wants money.  But the Republicans don't want to give up the money.  Why not negotiate?  You know.  Give up something in order to get what you want.  I'm sure the Republicans will be reasonable if Krugman and his buddies in Congress would just pony up and reduce the price tag of the government a bit.  You know, to some reasonable level of expenditures?  Like ones that we can afford?

No fair says Krugman.  Just one branch of government controlled by one party.  Not fair at all.

Why? Because this is a hostage situation. If the president and his allies operate on the principle that failure to raise the debt ceiling is an unthinkable outcome, to be avoided at all cost, then they have ceded all power to those willing to bring that outcome about. In effect, they will have ripped up the Constitution and given control over America’s government to a party that only controls one house of Congress, but claims to be willing to bring down the economy unless it gets what it wants.

By having the House control the purse, the Framers of the Constitution were acting wisely.  It just so happens that the House is the branch of government closest to the people.  So if the government is getting out of hand, the House can enforce the discipline that the people expect.  It isn't tearing up the Constitution. It is enforcing it. What Krugman really wants is for the House to abrogate its authority and to give his party what it wants- unlimited spending authority.  This hasn't been provided by the Constitution regardless of what Krugman thinks, thank goodness.

The people put the Republicans into power for a reason: to get this spending under control.  A lot of absurd rhetoric by Krugman and others doesn't change the Constitution.  You need an amendment for that, or a lot more Democrats.  At the moment, he is short of Democrats, so they must negotiate.  Negotiation isn't tantamount to tearing up the Constitution.  In fact, it is the opposite, it preserves it.  It has a long tradition in this democracy of ours. Why not try it?