Three numbers

With all the noise about the debt ceiling debate one might think this was a new and unprecedented thing. It's not. Here are a few numbers to keep in mind:

74...number of times the debt ceiling has been raised since 1962.

18...number of times the debt ceiling was raised under Reagan.

7...number of times the debt ceiling was raised under George W. Bush.

Note: many of the same right wing bullies now making dust about raising it in 2011 didn't raise a peep when Bush was running up the debt with tax cuts, a prescription drug bill written by drug company lobbyists, and the unnecessary war in Iraq.

The only thing that's new is using such a vote to ram through drastic cuts in programs that working people depend on and further extend and expand tax cuts for people who don't need them.