The debt ceiling crisis is over.  The idea that our nation could refuse to make good on debts already incurred is surreal, the creation of an insane world.  In effect this would destroy the credit of the nation by a single political impasse.  Embedded in my mind is image of President Biden and Speaker of the House, McCarthy standing before cameras and media representatives, their faces frozen in half smile, saying there was no possibility of default, while it was clear that the fascist-minded Republican right was by no means ready to approve additional borrowing to pay obligations already due.

I remember it was as if I saw the mouth of both moving without ability to hear a word they were saying, –like puppets on strings.

But no matter.  The bill to raise the debt ceiling has passed both the House and the Senate.  “This” could be heaven or this could be hell…  I guess the country continues to be heaven — for now.

Mentiri—

Watch out!

He reflects—
in a moment he will be ready with a lie.

This is a stage of civilization
represented by whole peoples.

Just consider what the Romans meant when they
used the word mentiri!*

–excerpt The Gay Science, Book 3, Section 157 by Friedrich Nietzsche

*derived from mens (mind), to make up something