Make Debt Crisis Creators Pay

Members of Congress who refuse to raise the debt ceiling even to pay for expenses they themselves have approved are threatening a world economic crisis if the US defaults. But they personally pay no price and keep their job as long as their constituents continue to support their extremism. Meanwhile many of their districts take in more federal dollars than they pay in taxes. President Obama should immediately instruct the Treasury that if Congress prevents the US from raising the debt ceiling, the first debts not paid should be those to the districts of members of either party who voted against raising the debt ceiling. That should free up enough money to pay expenses in other districts and interest on the national debt and avoid default. Let those responsible be the first to experience the results of their destructive strategy. Only constituents in those districts can pressure their Congress members to change their vote. If Congress members think this is unfair or illegal, let them hold hearings or even sue the President, but in the meantime the US economy will be saved from default.