Wrong question, wrong answer

This is in response to a post people are sharing with a plan attributed to Warren Buffett:

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hometown-buffett/ 

I am not saying that Buffett didn't say it. Context is important.

This was essentially a quip made by Buffett when asked about a debt ceiling conflict and potential government shutdown back in 2011. 

People are angry at many things and Buffett is perceived to be good with money, so I get the impulse to share it. I also found the share really annoying.

The Snopes article mentions an encouragement to share (twenty times in the posts I was seeing) which may be part of why it was getting so much traction. 

Now consider the guilt trip of those "most-people-won't-share-will-you" or "only-true-patriots-will-share" posts... does anyone really miss chain letters where you were promised good or bad luck? Why are we still doing this?

I admit I initially thought it was made up. False pairings of people and quotes is pretty common on the internet. I didn't think it seemed likely because generally the smartest financial people don't worry too much about deficits and debts on the government side.

As a quip it makes sense, especially in the context of a debt ceiling showdown. 

Additional context we should remember is that Republicans harp on debt and deficits because they want an excuse to not help people. Republicans never find it a reason to cut defense spending. W's response to inheriting a balanced budget from Clinton was tax cuts for the rich. Debt ceiling showdowns started after that. So, let's remember our history here.

https://www.factcheck.org/2008/02/the-budget-and-deficit-under-clinton/ 

As it is, theoretically any deficit is being eliminated right now by the cost-cutting measures of the DOGE team. 

Any thinking person knows that the chaos being caused by these thoughtless and destructive cuts will lead to very expensive harm and needs where it is uncertain how they will be met. Regardless, I feel pretty comfortable saying that right now executive overreach is a far more pressing issue than congressional gridlock. I wish there was more opportunity and will for congressional resistance, but that's another story.

Let's just say that congressional gridlock was the issue; there have certainly been times when it was.

Would locking out all the bums be the answer? Regardless of how anyone voted or what legislation they produced? 

Under current circumstances, that will probably get you a lot more Trump supporters. There are so many more of them, and voter enfranchisement has taken so many hits. 

Think about some of the remarkably unqualified people that have been elected in recent cycles; is it really possible to believe that just eliminating every sitting member -- regardless of record or affiliation -- is going to result in a better configuration?

No! It is going to take organization. It is going to take people paying attention to how elections have impact and making choices that will benefit all of us.  

Sharing jokes can be great, but Buffett's quip was not shared as a joke. It was shared as an action item. It's purpose was to tap into a real anger and frustration, but it does so in a counterproductive way.

It may not seem like it matters that much, but I'm going to keep harping on this exhaustion thing. People only have so much energy; don't take up their time with junk.

Republican talking points tend to be things that make you go "Yeah!" not "Hmm. That idea has possibilities."

We don't need more thoughtless reactionaries. I am positive about that.

Potential action item: Pause before you post.