Whoever wins control of the House, there's one thing Democrats absolutely must do

In any given year where Republicans control either the House, the Senate, or both, Democratic presidents are treated to the same bizarre, exasperating ritual. If Democrats don’t agree to massive cuts in Medicare, Social Security, or other social programs, Republicans threaten to allow the U.S. to default on its credit by refusing to allow the debt ceiling to be raised. This action would unquestionably precipitate a catastrophic, global economic disaster, sending this nation and most of the developed (and undeveloped) world into a second and probably permanent Great Depression.

Far more consequential than a “government shutdown,” this threat to arbitrarily default on the nation’s existing debts has been wielded cynically and repeatedly since Republicans discovered its utility at energizing and inflaming their ignorant voter base against Democratic policies that benefit people they consider “undeserving,” (i.e., Black people and other racial minorities). The reality that it would inflict economic calamity to every person in this country, more or less across the board, is immaterial to them. 

Time and time again this tactic proved to be mere posturing: At the 11th hour, some agreement is suddenly reached, or resolution is suddenly passed, which keeps the U.S. government credit-worthy and assures other nations that yes, we will pay our already-incurred bills. As Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell himself acknowledged, the country’s debt ceiling is a hostage that is worth ransoming, but probably not killing outright. After all, Republicans ultimately have to put food on their families’ tables, too, and most of them prefer living in houses rather than on the streets. But now there’s a big, big problem.