Gimme Money or I Stick it to the Poor

In reply to President Obama's threat (ala Mayor Richard Daly Chicago style) to not pay Social Security if he doesn't get his debt ceiling increase, I suggest that a bill be introduced in Congress requiring that such funds as are available without borrowing be earmarked for payment of government expenses in the following order:

1. Payment toward the interest on the national debt. (Current revenues will cover it so we might as well keep the credit of the US as high as possible for the time being.)

2. Payment of Social Security and Medicare benefits. (These are real Americans who paid real money into FDR's national pension plan and LBJ's effort to nationalize health care. As members of arguably the least flexible cohort of our population, they deserve the most consideration.)

3. Payment of the wages of members of the US Armed Services (NOT DOD civilians). (These are people who have elected to give a part of (and in some cases, all) their lives to the USA. If anybody deserves more than a fair shake, these persons do.)

4. Payment of benefits to disabled veterans. These are Americans who gave a part of their life to their country and are now crippled to one extent or another as a result of that service. (America owes them a little extra consideration, especially since their service has decreased their ability to be flexible and resourceful in the face of hardship.)

5. Payment of benefits to all other veterans. (Having given a part of their lives to their country, it seems that they should stand at the head of the line for all other government beneficiaries.)

6. Payment of contracts, wages and benefits to all other federal contractors and employees except for elected officials and their staffs. Prioritization of payment could be left in the hands of the President. High priority employees would be paid first and the remainder would be paid in order of priority until such time as funds run out.

7. Payment of wages and benefits to elected Federal officials and their staffs. (These are the people who screwed the system up and really don't deserve to get paid anything until they have gotten everything fixed.)