Politics & Government

Debt Ceiling Crisis A Concern for Locals

Residents express concerns that Congress cannot seem to work together

Locals are frustrated that the federal government has been unable thus far to come to an agreement on how to handle the looming debt crisis.

"I feel that both parties need to come together," said Harry Giles, 34, a butcher from Manchester. "The Democrats are bending over backwards and the Republicans are snowballing the whole situation."

Unless Congress reaches an agreement on how to deal with the nation's ever-increasing debt, Aug. 2 could be a day of reckoning.

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On that day, the country's debt will reach over $14 trillion, hitting the cap set by lawmakers. Major cuts or tax hikes could result as an effort to remain under that threshold.

President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, have been sparring over how to deal with the issue, debating tax and program cuts.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Asked if Republicans and Democrats are working well together to solve the problem, Dan Caputo, an 87-year-old Whiting retiree, said simply, "No, they're not."

"It's partisan politics. They said it's not going to be that way, but it is," he said. "That's one of the reasons they can't reach an agreement."

Eleanor Ginter, a senior in her 80s who lives in Whiting, said that she, too, hopes the parties can find a solution.

"It's time they got on the ball and got it together," she said.

Walter Blok, an 84-year-old from Whiting, called the situation "ridiculous."

"The Republicans want to destroy Obama. That's why they're doing this. It's a bunch of nuts over there," he said. "It isn't reasonable. It's ridiculous. I've never seen such a thing." 

Some worried that the national debt will just continue to grow, affecting both young and old for years to come.

"The deeper they're going in, there will be debt into the next generations," Caputo said.

"I think that when it comes down to it the children are going to be affected," Giles said. "The schools and the municipal buildings are going to be affected. I think the middle class will get worked over, instead of the rich."

Program cuts for the elderly will probably not be an option, locals said.

"I don't think anyone will dare to touch Social Security," Giles said. "Both parties won't dare to touch that. I don't think that will be affected at all."

Caputo said that "I don't approve of them touching Medicare in any way. The public has paid into it," Caputo said.

Residents have some ideas for reducing debt, which include a focus on both domestic and international affairs.

"You've got to charge corporations taxes," Blok said.

Giles agreed.

"That's what it will come down to. Sad to say," he said. "They'll have to raise taxes. I don't know where else they can get it. Cutting programs? I'm not for it."

Caputo echoed the sentiment and said that, "there's no other way it can be done."

"We should pull out of the countries that we're fighting in. We can't do it all, and in the meantime that money is being spent on war. The country is suffering." Caputo said.

Despite the potential for economic distress, Giles said that he is "not too worried about it at this point."

"It's too early in the game. I think they'll reach some sort of agreement since I believe Obama will push it. He was very clear about that," Giles said. "Which I think is right because later on down the road, it will all be about politics, not what's right for the people."


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