Mind boggling politics

This is absolutely ridiculous.

Senate votes debt limit hike to $8.965 trillion

Notable quotes:

The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a $781 billion increase in U.S. borrowing authority aimed at averting a possible government default on debt this month.

Treasury Secretary John Snow applauded passage of the legislation saying it "ensures that the U.S. can deliver on promises already made, such as Social Security and Medicare payments and aid for the victims of the 2005 hurricanes."

Must be nice to have that kind of power…

(**Martha at bank counter**)
"Uhm, yeah, I’d like to take out a $781 billion loan please. I’m afraid I might not be able to pay the bills I already have (including my other loan payments) so I need to borrow some more to pay back what I’ve already borrowed."

Completely defies all logic! This doesn’t “avert a possible government default on debt.” This just raises the credit limit on the national credit card! If you can’t even pay your minimum amounts now how is giving you a higher limit going to help? I just don’t get it! And they wonder why so many Americans are drowning in debt...