Reply #4: I actually think the best solution at this point is a clean raising of the debt limit

[karynnj]

high enough that it does not have to be done again until the election. This could be the result if plans from both sides are rejected.

That would avert the crisis, not gut anything and not take any money out of the economy - which given that it actually should have more stimulation is at least not harm. The fact that Obama seems committed to reducing the debt as a goal makes this less likely.

I do think that some of the ideas are not bad, but now is not the time to do them. (I do think simplifying the tax code is a good idea - but the last time they did that, it quickly got complicated again - as people had lobbyists write exemptions for them.