Rick Santorum: I Would 'Absolutely' Let The Country Default Over Defunding The Health Care Law

Not just the nation, but the entire planet, as not increasing the debt ceiling would be disastrous to every economy on the planet.

Well ok that's 2012, but you're saying you'd let the country go into default on this issue.

SANTORUM: No I think the president would let this country go into default on this issue.

WALLACE: But you would make that the condition — you'd make that the price?

SANTORUM: Absolutely. Absolutely.

Santorum is right. It wouldn't be him or congress that would make that choice on default. Funding/revenue bills begin in the House. If the House passes a debt ceiling raising bill that also defunds Obamacare, it would be Obama who would choose between raising the ceiling at that cost or choosing to default and thus wipe out any chance there would be funding for Obamacare anytime soon anyway. Obamacare dies either way.

The debt ceiling bill should NOT be tied to defunding ACA or any other political games. The stakes are too high.

Defunding ACA will never pass the Senate, so if the House GOP chooses to attach it to the debt ceiling, it will be the GOP playing cheap tricks with the world economy and completely on them alone.

Though I realize that the TEA GOP aren't big on being responsible for their actions and words!

I think that they probably won't tie the Obamacare package to it this time. They'll probably raise the debt ceiling just enough to force a September 2012 vote on the next raisingand stake the Nov. election on what the people want then as to ACA, debt ceiling increase, balanced budget amendment, other spending cuts, tax flattening, etc.

Why not have each as a separate up or down vote?

I think because the TEA GOP knows that their agenda is unpopular and don't want an official record voting against ACA or the debt ceiling raise on its own. They are cowards playing politics with important issues.

I totally agree, JonesGirl. I hope enough americans of the conservative persuasion finally see what these guys are all about and switch over to a democratic vote. One can hope!

Everyone liberal or elderly that I've spoken to have no problem with sacrifice, as long as it's shared. and they also see that the republicans are saying the only ones that don't have to sacrifice are the rich.

And in 2010 we said we don't like what was done and will do whatever it takes to get it repealled or thrown out in court. The one very cold confort of a default which I in no way want ever to happen is that it would forever rule out Obamacare as rising interest rates would cause maintenence of existing debt to be so high no additional debt could be added for a long time, many generations.

The majority like ACA.

It is highly irresponsible and partisan to want the debt ceiling not raised to defund the ACA. But irresponsible and highly partisan is all the TEA GOP offer, can't wait until they lose the House in 2012 and are sent to the political wilderness.

That won't happen because too many people realize that investment capital into jobs and the economy would go into the wilderness with them until they return. If 2012 brought about a 2008 repeat, my money in the stock market would be gone the next day, to go into tax shalters, commodity futures, oil, and gold, as well as foreign stock market indexes. My dollar and vote ballot boxes are directly linked.

maintenence of existing debt to be so high no additional debt could be added for a long time, many generations.

Simply raise taxes. You know, those that are lowest in the last 50 years? The best part is that you don't have to technically raise them, you just remove the temporary tax cuts in place and restore them.

Then, Corn, you are part of the problem with the economy.

Simply raise taxes.

You could tax everyone at 100% and not raise enough revenues if that happened. Raising tax rates only decreases revenues and we fully intend to prove that to you all if they are raised.

Then, Corn, you are part of the problem with the economy.

No, I'm not. I am 100% invested right now. Just about everything I own at all besides the falling equity in my house is in the stock markets. I went all in as the market dropped below 8,000 and continued buying as it fell and then back up to 10,000. I bought more late last year in anticipation of all the Bush tax cuts being extended. I will only be a problem to the economy if your side gets its way. I simply won't participate in a progressive controlled social spending/tax increasing environment. All my money will go to the sidelines and sit it out until the next business/election cycle happens and when your side is out of office our investments return to the economy. As I said, my investment decisions are almost 100% directly tied to election results. We'll see you all put your own money into the economy (back up your vision with your own money) and subject it tot the rules you want to apply to us and see what happens.

I will only be a problem to the economy if your side gets its way. I simply won't participate in a progressive controlled social spending/tax increasing environment. All my money will go to the sidelines and sit it out until the next business/election cycle happens and when your side is out of office our investments return to the economy.

Glad you cleared that up, that your dedication to your country is totally dependent on the balance in your brokerage accounts. Please do take all your money out of the market, prices will drop and I can buy cheap and go long. When you come back in, I'll be happy to sell back to you.

You realize of course that restoring the temporary Bush/Obama tax breaks has no effect on your long-term market profits. As taxes on short-term investments are at your current income tax level, so going in and out for political reasons will cost you more. But hey, you will feel good about making "a point."

And yes, I am fully invested in the market as well. I have a balanced portfolio that can endure downturns and take advantage of upturns. I see my investments as contributing to the well being of the economy, as a vote of confidence in large andsmall companies, in their growth and success.

As I said, if "my side gets in the way" I will feel no remorse in taking advantage of those whose investment decisions are based on political emotion.