IN OUR VIEW | Spending Games: Once again, Congress set for showdown over debt ceiling

For two years now, we have been spared congressional wrangling over the national debt ceiling - what is supposed to be a self-imposed bit of fiscal constraint to limit what the U.S. can borrow.

It wasn't because lawmakers stopped spending. No, it was a bipartisan deal that recognized the reality of added expenses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that agreement is over, and as President Joe Biden and the Republicans are pushing a $3.5 trillion infrastructure spending bill, those plans run up against the current debt ceiling at the end of the month.

The government could still function by shifting spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office, but the till would be empty by October or November if some sort of deal isn't reached.

Republicans, though, are standing firm right now and say they will not vote to raise borrowing limits.

Obviously, something has to give. And it will. It always does because the wrangling isn't really about fiscal responsibility. It's about power and who gets what.

Right now, the U.S. is in debt to the tune of $28.5 trillion. Yes, Democrats and Republicans are going to have to deal and increase the debt ceiling. But if anyone in Washington was serious about handling the nation's purse responsibly, then spending would be cut dramatically. As anyone can see, debt has a way of multiplying. The more you take on, the more you have to keep taking on.

It has to end some time. The only sane course for this nation is to spend less than it takes in until the debt is reduced to a manageable level - or better still eliminated.

But will we ever have leadership sane enough to get the job done?

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