BBC Q&A On US Debt Deal Is Really Q&BS

BBC Q&A On US Debt Deal Is Really Q&BS

>> MONDAY, AUGUST 01, 2011

I was going to leave this alone today, but it's just too egregious to resist. Check out the BBC's Q&A page for the debt crisis. We'll just go Q by Q, as it were.

What is the proposed deal? Under the the agreement, the US deficit will be reduced by at least $2.4tn over 10 years. The ceiling for US borrowing will be raised by about the same amount in two stages. A new Congressional committee to recommend further deficit-reduction measures is to be set up and report by November. Congressional leaders are hopeful the compromise will win the backing of both houses, but some Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives remain opposed for different reasons.

Even the White House's own talking points have the debt reduction as $1.5 trillion. The BBC is using a worst-case (for Keynesians and Socialist fantasists) scenario. Funny, they're usually much more accurate when parroting the White House dicta. In reality, the actual agreement doesn't even hit the $1 trillion mark, and the rest of the spending cuts are hardly written in stone and may not even happen. All we know is that, like the People's Front of Judea in a crisis, it will call for immediate discussion. So the BBC here is selling a molehill as a mountain. It's more sexy that way, I guess.

What is the debt ceiling? There is a legal limit on the total amount of debts the US government can can run up in order to pay its bills - including military salaries, interest on existing loans, and Medicare. The current limit is $14.3 trillion (£8.9tn). The cap was reached in May. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner was able to extend the expected day of reckoning to 2 August, by various tricks such as postponing payments into government pension schemes, and thanks to better-than-expected tax revenues.

Geez, BBC, why not just say the government bills include paying to keep puppies from being killed? How about mentioning all the various wasteful schemes like subsidies for cronies, instead of emotionally charged programs like Medicare and pensions? The way they have it, it makes all government spending seem absolutely vital.

Why can't the Obama administration borrow more? Because it is not in Mr Obama's power. The debt ceiling is set by statute and can only be raised by Congress. An overall borrowing cap was first introduced by Congress in 1917 to make it simpler for the government to finance its efforts in World War I. Since then the ceiling has been raised dozens of times, and it is usually a formality.

Wrong answer. But the problem lies in the attitude behind the question. The BBC is asking this from the perspective that He should borrow more, full stop, no (other) questions asked. Instead, the question should be coming from the perspective that we're deep underwater when it comes to debt and why shouldn't He borrow more money, rather than why is He unable to save us all. This betrays the inherent far-Left mindset at the BBC.

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ALL SHADES OF OPINION,,,

The great thing about the BBC is that provides all shades of opinion.....get this catch from an eagle eyed reader! "America is apparently on the brink of economic armageddon and about to bring the next apocalypse upon us and the BBC brings on an actor to tell us all about it and how it could be solved.

Weekend Breakfast on 5Live at 2 hrs 20 mins, tells us that everybody (?) is talking about this doom laden scenario...'even actors'. Cue Richard Schiff....qualified to comment because he acted in the 'West Wing'....oh and they did an episode..maybe..that covered something like this....but you know, he didn't understand it then, and doesn't now but he'll do his best to give us his take on things. Bearing in mind he is a democrat, naturally being a lovey,...he informs us that the obstructionist and unpatriotic Republicans are blocking the necessary legislation (hmmm...didn't the Republican controlled Congress just vote for legislation...that the Dem. Senate voted out?) in order to paint a picture of a failing Obama presidency....the GOP is prepared to see the world economy destroyed in order to get rid of Obama.

Well thanks for that BBC, let's add him to the very long list of actors, musicians and writers who you bring on to talk about their work but always for some reason end up asking about their, unfailingly, Democrat political views."

MANCHESTER UNITED IN FAVOUR OF HST?

Interesting catch from a Biased BBC reader here; "Piece on 5Live today about the Hight Speed Train line to Manchester.

We were treated to the views of a 'businesswoman' from Manchester who told us how vital the new line would be for her. This woman turned out to be Cat Lewis, producer and film maker....who makes films for the BBC. Isn't Salford, where the BBC's new media centre going to be, in Manchester? Guess it would be handy for all those BBC types to have a special train laid on for them.

Must watch this space to see which side of the debate the BBC comes down on."