Raising the federal government’s debt ceiling was never in doubt. Words like “catastrophe,” “armageddon”, and “default” and others designed to frighten the public appeared over and over. Refusal by Congress to approve the boost wasn’t even in the cards. All of the fuss and furor up to the day for voting was all just “smoke and mirrors.” Actually, all they did was give their selves legal permission to add $2.5 trillion to the already horrendous national debt.

The truth is that the federal government is spending 42 percent more then they are taking in, therefore creating a suicidal path for the United States. Then they had the audacity to say they will cut spending by 2.1 trillion dollars over the next 10 years. When in fact they mean they will cut 210 billion per year. That amount is pittance. Even some of the cuts in spending rely on more “smoke and mirrors.”

Some are mere cuts in projected spending increases. For instance, if a man thinks about buying a $40,000 car but changes his mind, has he added $40,000 to his bank account? Of course not, cutting projected spending is not cutting actual spending in anybody’s book.

Displaying his customary lack of leadership, President Obama never offered a presidential version of the way out of the debt hole. He just kept saying to Congress “just get it done” and make sure it is large enough so that he doesn’t have to face the issue again before his 2012 reelection campaign.

More “smoke and mirrors” hide what should be discussed. Why not end foreign aid to other countries? How about abolishing fiascoes like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Why not eliminate “unconstitutional” federal departments like:

• Department of Education
• Department of Energy
• Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Department of Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Department Equal Opportunity Commission

How about termination of undeclared wars and bringing our troops home? Why not privatize some of the government’s federal land, offshore oil sites and sell 69,000 government owned buildings that aren’t needed. Any debt reduction plan that doesn’t include eliminating some government departments and programs is a joke.

Our nation is self-destructing in many ways but, deficit spending is by far the most serious.