“It is time to cut up the national credit card and get serious about paying down our debt.”
Sen. Jim Bunning, March 3, 2010

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Actually Mr. Bunning the time to say that was 24 years ago when you were first elected to the House of Representatives.

Now is the time to replace every member of Congress with a more responsible adult who is outraged by this fiscal madness and hellbent to stop it. That might require 535 new people.

At a moment in time today the national debt of the United States was $12,547,283,135,818 (DefeatTheDebt.com). One minute later – literally – it increased by about $1,720,000. Let’s stop calling it “nearly $13 trillion.” The enormity of this 14-digit debt should not be modified nor abbreviated.

Where’s the stentorian opposition to this recklessness?

Sure, Sen. Bunning looked angry last week when he held up a $10 billion (that’s $10,000,000,000) spending bill because there were no funds to pay for it. He showed courage trying to stop yet another irresponsible swipe of the national credit card by Congress.

He was ridiculed by liberal Democrats (of course) and liberal media (of course). How did his fellow Republicans react? Some were critical of Bunning, a few offered him tepid support, most were mum. As television commentator Glenn Beck said in a speech to conservatives a few weeks ago: “One party will tax and spend. One party won’t tax and will spend.”

For their complicit spending and lack of outrage over the debt, current and past Republicans are as guilty as the Democrats for the fiscal mess we’re in.

And that includes Bunning, who’s been in the Senate the past 12 years and the House the previous 12 years. He’s best known as a former baseball great and a sometimes quirky senator, not as a crusader against deficit spending. He deserved cheers last week, but where has he been for nearly a quarter century? He said he worries about the debt we’re leaving our children. But he’s the father of nine, grandfather of 35 and great-grandfather of four – where has he been? Why did he wait until now – the year he’ll retire – to make these headlines?

If a building full of young people is on fire, witnesses don’t calmly stare at it calling it “unsustainable.” They call 911, scream for help and take action. Then firefighters arrive in big bright trucks blaring ear-piercing sirens and horns. They don’t talk much, they’re not tolerant, they’re not diplomatic. They grab big hoses, swing big axes, smash windows, save lives and extinguish the fire.

Our incomprehensible national debt is a raging fire that threatens everyone’s future, but especially the next generation’s future. The “witnesses” are voters, the “firefighters” are members of Congress. Why does it seem like everyone is doing nothing?

Except for a lone, retiring, unsupported senator who took an overdue stand for five days, was mocked, ultimately relented and another $10 billion was spent (borrowed) by our profligate Congress. When will the revolution begin?