Let's spread the blame

Now that the debt ceiling has been raised, leaving almost everyone in Washington looking inept, it seems that there is plenty of blame to be spread around.

Note to Democrats: The debt of the country cannot be addressed or solved without dealing with entitlement programs.

Note to Republicans: President Obama and Speaker John Boehner came up with an incredible plan to end the debt ceiling standoff and reduce the country's future debt, but you were too busy bowing to the freshman Republicans to push the agreement through the House.

Note to Tea Party Republicans: Your refusal to consider any new or increased sources of revenue is dangerous and irresponsible.

Note to corporations: Sitting on trillions of dollars of cash while the unemployment rate rises is a huge gamble that the economy will recover without your money. Calculated risk is supposed to be the foundation of a smooth-running capitalist economic system.

Note to the middle class: Goodbye. With the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer, we know which direction the middle class is going.

Note to the country's citizens: Read the Constitution. It is the Congress of the United States that passes all revenue bills, not the president or the executive branch.

Note to Wall Street and the banking system: Greed will not lead the country out of debt. You need to be regulated to prevent your greed from ruining the economy.

Jack Jackson

Cedar Rapids