Debt Ceiling Sound-Off: People React To Ongoing Negotiations (VIDEO)

Last week, as part of a HuffPost and Patch collaboration, dozens of local Patch editors went out to talk to their neighbors about the debt ceiling. The goal: find out if normal Americans are worried about the US defaulting on its debts. And if so, who is to blame?

Some locals dug in. But there were signs of shifting allegiances, too. As Pennsylvania Christine Heckman said, “I’m a Republican, and the Democrats are right on with this one.”

The video above is just a tease of the deeper reporting. Click below to hear more from any of the men and women featured.

• Walter Palmer, Gross Pointe, Mich.: "This is a middle class neighborhood … It’s going to affect everyone in Grosse Pointe."
• Lydia Gray, White Marsh, Md.: "The hot dog entrepreneur grilling her way out of the downturn said “Large business owners … will be affected first."
• Frank Casella, Brewster, N.Y.: "Oh, they’ll pass it. Because they’re just playing games."
• Penny Boles, St. Clair Shores, Mich.: “I’m not worried about the debt ceiling. I’m worried about violence among classes of people.”
• John Mayo, Iowa City, Iowa: "Am I pleased with the status quo? I’m not. But it’s where we have to work from."
• David DeAngelo, Teaneck, N.J.: "It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican. Financial markets will react in a very violent and negative fashion."
• Robert Rosa, Freeport, N.Y.: "Democrat/Republican? Elite’s elite."
• Christine Heckman, Springfield, Pa.: "You have to raise taxes and cut spending. You have to do both."
• Andy Cammisa, Los Altos, Calif.: "Anybody who’s making good money … is going to have to pay more taxes.""
• Stan Hunkovic, Perry Hall, Md.: "I would not go out and get another Visa card to get even more debt."
• Damian Miles, N.Y.: "We’ve got to get back to the Constitution, the original drama."

Comments

[Pat says]

12:20 PM on 07/23/2011

It's time the Republicans take responsibilty for all their greed. NO ONE IN ANY COUNTRY CAN HAVE THEIR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO. Not for long anyway! This country is on the brink of death and the Republicans STILL don't want to give an inch. Look what happened to Greece! Is America the next Greece? To have John Boehner walk out of a talk with the President of the USA takes feeling he has more power than brains. John, who put you on a Pedestal besides yourself that I want to kick over. Let this country live by it's laws. NO CEILING RAISE! The gov't has to learn just like every company did. Live with in your means! If we default on loans ,so be it. If gov't employees don't get paid, so be it. Just like what the rest of this great country went thru and no one cared! People in the Senate and Congress should stop being paid w/o any benefits since this country is in crisis. They don't need the money! They need to give back! No pensions for them. They don't need tax shelters or made up charities to give away money to escape taxes at the end of the yr. And who's idea was it to give tax credits to companies that moved out of the country and not tax the heck out of the items when they come back into this country. You have all done a find job of making America bankrupt.

[gregory57]

08:02 PM on 07/22/2011

Republicans: Cutting Spending without increasing revenue is only half a solution.

Stop trying to balance the budget on the backs of the vulnerable!
Stop threatening to hold the US economy hostage to your political aspirations!

[lhullett47]

05:02 PM on 07/22/2011

What are the bottom figures,ie., how much do we owe vs. how much do we take in. I believe Dick Morris...we have the cash. I want each politician to be wired to a polygraph when they speak.

[Wyane way]

02:17 PM on 07/22/2011

One of my republican friends said to me, "I know your're a Democrat but I sure wish you were on our side" I replied I am on your side, you just haven't realized that yet.

[neckozihp]

03:39 PM on 07/22/2011

Great comment Wayne! IMO we are all on the side of wanting our country to be strong and prosperous. We just have differing ideas sometimes of how to get there.

[Wyane way]

03:59 PM on 07/22/2011

Thanks for the comment. I love my republican friends. They are great people too.

[Balloon Twister]

11:37 AM on 07/22/2011

Pass it or not come August 3rd it's party time!

[Gestas]

10:54 AM on 07/22/2011

As G,W. Bush said when He was asked about the Debt Ceiling...."I sure glad we didn't have anything like that when I was President".

[RecreationalPilot]

10:32 AM on 07/22/2011

Good.

Bachmann's, Pawlenty's, Romney's, Cain's, Santorum's states will be one of the first to go down. Let's see what happens to their state when the bonding rates and interest rates go up several points overnight!

Gary Johnson's New Mexico was also put on downgrade notice yesterday as well. Bob McDonnell (VA) changed his mind when his state was included in that same downgrade notice. He went from let it fail to we have to stop this in a heartbeat!

[KickstandCat]

09:47 AM on 07/22/2011

I love the ignorant firefighter. I assume he's paid for with public funds. Guess he'll be in for a rude awakening when he doesn't get paid.

[Indaba]

09:47 AM on 07/22/2011

Last guy is terrific - great passion about the USA.

[wcb59]

11:04 AM on 07/22/2011

I found him to be be the most irritating. He has a vision that many have; a 18th Century vision of America existing in splendid isolation from the rest of the world with a population of yeoman farmers and small merchants. Most of the countries in the world have a plan for development which includes eating our lunch and here we are offering free home delivery.

[Buster Nitchski]

09:13 AM on 07/22/2011

Just read a great article on the debt ceiling during Bush. I know this subject has been thrown around already, but the pure hypocracy of it all!

"...while the four Republicans in Congressional leadership positions are attempting to hold the increase hostage now, they combined to vote for a debt limit increase 19 times during the presidency of George W. Bush. In doing so, they increased the debt limit by nearly $4 trillion.

At the beginning of the Bush presidency, the United States debt limit was $5.95 trillion. Despite promises that he would pay off the debt in 10 years, Bush increased the debt to $9.815 trillion by the end of his term, with plenty of help from the four Republicans currently holding Congressional leadership positions: Speaker John Boehner, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl"

If this doesn't Pi$$ 0ff Americans, I don't konw what it'll take. I guess full on default.

[DogWoodDaze]

09:32 AM on 07/22/2011

That's only half the story. Obama, who voted against increasing the debt ceiling under Bush, increased the debt by 4 trillion in 2.5 years. That's the real crime

[iowamiddleguy]

12:12 PM on 07/22/2011

how about some real numbers and data .... seriously - most of the debt that was incurred under the first year of obama was based on promised payments made by bush .... I know - facts hurt .... but facts do tend to have a liberal bias

[Dave F]

12:24 PM on 07/22/2011

Did Obama have to continue the wars Bush started? Ummm... yes.
Did Obama have to continue the Medicare Part D (100% unfunded!) that Bush signed? Ummm.. yes.
Did Obam inherit an economy on Day One that was losing 750,000 jobs PER MONTH? Ummm... yes.
Did Obama put BACK on the books all the SPENDING that Bush did OFF-book? Ummm.. yes.
And Obama's first year in office was a budget prepared by... President Bush, since the fiscal years runs starts Oct 1.

Please get your facts straight first.

[SheHasRights2]

09:08 AM on 07/22/2011

I've seen a lot of posts asking the same question: Why now? Why is the debt ceiling such an issue now but not previously?

In the words of Joe Walsh (R- IL) to Chris Matthews (while using Matthews' name 61 times in an effort to make his point): what has YOUR president done? Matthews corrected Walsh by reminding him that Obama is OUR president; that Obama is Walsh's president too.

Tea Party Republicans more than old guard Republicans, don't see Obama as their president and thus will afford him no respect and will push hard against anything he wants, agrees with, says...just because it's Obama. If Obama isn't their president, who is?

[DogWoodDaze]

09:33 AM on 07/22/2011

Respect is earned.

[chipchuck]

09:47 AM on 07/22/2011

You respect the office, which has earned the respect over 235 years.

[SheHasRights2]

09:51 AM on 07/22/2011

If only that were true....

Republicans will not respect the POTUS no matter what he does. They reverse support on their own legislation if he even whispers an inkling of support. This isn't about respect; this is about taking down the man in the WH, no matter the cost or lengths they must go. The words "cooperation" and "compromise" are not dirty words. Those two very simple and important concepts are the foundation of this nation as well as its government. Without them, we're stuck in an unending stalemate that affords neither growth nor accomplishment. Republicans do not have all the answers, neither do Democrats, which is why cooperation and compromise are so incredibly and undeniably important to our continued success.

[jr3houpe1849]

08:28 AM on 07/22/2011

One question Does anyone believe all of this would be going on if MC Cain had won the election and was sitting in The WH

[pammygamherst]

08:53 AM on 07/22/2011

course not cause he's an old pasty faced guy...you know...he's not BLACK

[DogWoodDaze]

09:34 AM on 07/22/2011

Nobody knows, and that includes you. But pretend all that you like

[RecreationalPilot]

10:22 AM on 07/22/2011

You're the one living on Fantasy Island.

[jr3houpe1849]

08:25 AM on 07/22/2011

Im having a hard time understanding why this has all come to head at this point in time why was none of this an issue under Reagan who started this mess and the two bush boys for making it worse with a little help from Clinton WHY NOW?

[jr3houpe1849]

08:20 AM on 07/22/2011

Why we not cut gov waste corp welfare sibsides to companies thar are making huge profit theWaste in defense spending And above all foreign aid to countries whos rulers do nothing with this money but build huge palaces and live exteme lasvish life styles

[dwedge]

07:53 AM on 07/22/2011

Why are people so worried? Michele Bachmann, Steve King and Gohmert say there will be no impact if we don't raise the debt ceiling. Wouldn't they know best?