I wonder how many Americans know what is coming on the 17th.

[texanwitch]

Really.

A lot of people do not read the paper, have the internet, or watch the news.

I say this because I was talking to someone at the grocery store this morning.

The couple didn't know what I was talking about.

[liberal_at_heart]

1. many people do that on purpose because most of the time the media makes millions and

manipulates the public by whipping everybody into a frenzy of fear. Defaulting would have bad consequences for sure but it would not be the end of the world.

[PDJane]

2. The end of the capitalist system, perhaps.....

Unless, of course, the TPP is agreed upon and the entire world devolves to poverty and a slave state.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. I'm not saying things aren't getting worse. They are. It is just doubtful that the whole world will

cave in on any one day in particular. Much more likely we will sit and slowly boil like the proverbial frog.

[texanwitch]

4. I wonder what the interest rates will be say on buying a house or car.

We will make but it won't be pretty.

In my neighborhood lot of townhouses are being built, lots of them.

The prices are between $300,000 and $400,000.

If the interest rates go up will be possible to buy a house now.

[Th1onein]

3. Neither do I.

[Bjorn Against]

5. I don't think many people realize a whole new list of GOP demands is coming

The GOP says they are going to have new demands for raising the debt ceiling but they don't know what those demands are. If they follow through and have a whole list of new demands the public is going to be furious, at that point the GOP will not even be able to pretend they are serious about compromise. I just hope they don't put us into default.

[texanwitch]

8. The republicans are full of themselves.

Their demands will not end.

[NoOneMan]

6. Don't you ever consider that these crises (that diffuse) are about lubing people up

Afterall, we've seen this dog and pony show a handful of times already. Normally it just results in some people accepting a shitty compromise to avoid the hypothetical scary thing. I just got to wonder what the "compromise" will be. Probably not funding Obamacare, but something else that sucks for people

[arcane1]

12. That is, in essence, the Shock Doctrine.

Exploit or create a crisis, and then propose "solutions" that would have never been approved of without the crisis.

It can be applied to the general public, or to specific politicians. It doesn't discriminate.

[NoOneMan]

13. Oh yeah, I just call it reality

Because that is what has been happening end on end.

But hey, hopefully I can eat crow and this will be solved without some magnificent "solution" that leaves a few people hungry

[liberal_at_heart]

14. +1000000

[Buns_of_Fire]

9. I don't think anyone really knows at this point.

All we know is that it's uncharted territory, and there are usually beasties in the woods.

[Vashta Nerada]

10. Will we become the United States of China?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Most to be honest.

And what bugs me is... ask about scores about the latest bread and circus, err sporting event.

[Turbineguy]

15. We'll just go on to the next piece of extortion.

Next year the repubs will have to demand cancellation of the 2014 election.

[texanwitch]

16. I was thinking the same thing.

Put nothing past these people.

[gopiscrap]

17. Probably about 40% actually know

[texanwitch]

18. The couple I was talking to looked to be in their 60's.

They had no idea at all.

They will find out soon.