Ready to crash the debt ceiling party? While the two parties are busy popping policy balloons, maybe your digital twin already knows your stance—perhaps even better than you.
This virtual you is tuned to your political vibe to make sense of the policy noise. It’s Thirsty Thursday, and your digital twin is serving up fresh perspectives. Are you thirsty?
Let’s tap into a sample Personal Public Policy Advisor Report and get the lowdown on the debt ceiling.
Should the
14th Amendment be invoked to avoid a US debt default?
The 14th Amendment states the validity of the public debt shall not be questioned. This clause gives the President power to override the debt ceiling to ensure America pays its bills.
Legal scholars argue the President can invoke the 14th to prevent economic calamity if Congress fails to raise the debt limit. Unilaterally raising the debt ceiling using 14th Amendment powers remains controversial but may be necessary to avert catastrophe.
More responsible budgeting is something all four sides of the table can agree on, but not the two parties.
Why Care?
The last time the Government shut down, it hurt the economy, meaning workers, professionals, small business owners, and the stock market.
And this time, we may default on US debt, which is about the same as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A debt default risks the dollar losing its status as the world’s reserve currency. Perhaps the stupidest thing the world’s only superpower could do to itself.
SPOILER ALERT
This week’s political flap started with our Monday Puzzle Drop article. Tuesday was the Tiebreaker of all the roles that were the most conflicted. Wednesday, we caught politically strange bedfellows dancing on the debt ceiling.
You can role-play this week’s puzzle at PolicyKeys.com.
Debt Ceiling
Political Parrots Playing Chicken
Drafting a compromise for the debt ceiling showdown has everything to do with the Party Favor Republicans and the Party Favor Democrats fighting over who picks up their earmark check.
Now, like a dysfunctional family, they are willing to spite the country for the love of parties.
Should the 14 Amendment be invoked to prevent a default on US debt?
Here’s an example of a Personal Public Policy Advisor Report for a random US citizen using our Political Digital Twin tool. Coming soon.
Weekly Feature –
Political Digital Twin
Each week, using a random number generator and our Humanizing Dice, we create a profile of a random citizen, showcasing over a dozen roles they fill.
A RANDOM CITIZEN VENTURES OUTSIDE THEIR NEWS SILO
- Personality: Vibrant 30-something, social butterfly with Indie and Pop playlist
- Interests: Sports fanatic, fishing enthusiast, values freedom and autonomy
- Upbringing:
- Parent: Border & Order Republican + Corporate Lobbyist for Investment Banks
- Later Years: Parent turned Entrepreneur
- Living Situation:
- Co-habiting with a Democrat Dove
- Personal Views: Liberty Independent
- Career Path:
- Early Years: Bookkeeper for Multi/National, Importer specializing in Brands
- Now: Non-union accounting Professional at a Local Builder
- Geography:
- Lives in a Test State, Rural setting
- Family Dynamic:
- Sibling 1: Civil Servant
- Sibling 2: Personal Services, Hairdresser
- Sibling 3: Creator, Crowdfunding aficionado
Should the 14 Amendment be invoked to prevent a default on US debt?
NO
- Corporate Lobby (22)
Wary, they want to keep the status quo, fearing the 14th may bring new rules. - Border & Order Republican (8)
Cautious, they say no to the 14th, worried it could weaken the republic. - Importer (16)
Nervous, they fear the 14th could shake up global trade, risking their steady flow. - Investment Bank (22)
Apprehensive, they avoid the 14th, scared it could usher in tougher financial oversight.
YES
- Democrat Dove (7)
Hopeful, they softly push for the 14th to make finances stable. - Liberty Independent (29)
Thrilled, they back the 14th, seeing it as fiscally smart and increasing options. - Crowdfund (29)
Excited, they rally for the 14th, thinking it will boost trust and commerce. - Entrepreneur (29)
Optimistic, they support the 14th, expecting it to stabilize markets. - Non-Union (29)
Relieved, they like the 14th, thankful it may save their jobs. - Test State (9)
Curious, they play with the 14th idea, aiming to set a financial precedent. - Rural Professional (29)
Grateful, they back the 14th as a safety net for their diverse communities. - Civil Servant (25)
Confident, they trust the 14th to keep public services running smoothly. - Multi/National (29)
Eager, they lean into the 14th, betting it will make global business better. - Brands (29)
Buoyant, they think the 14th will boost consumer trust and their own sales. - Local Builder (29)
Inspired, they make the case for the 14th, seeing it as a bedrock for local growth. - Personal Services (29)
Content, they favor the 14th as a buffer for their key but discretionary services.
Drumroll Please
Wow, a whole lot is going on inside this person’s head, huh? When you add up the sixteen roles’ forecasted opinions, the score is…
YES 12– NO 4 = net +8 YES
The possible scores here are +16 to -16, so +8 indicates that this individual is strongly leaning in favor of invoking the 14th Amendment to avoid a debt default, barring one or more of the NO reasons being way more important than all the YES reasons. Since this is a made-up person, we’ll never know.
But You Will
- Choose Your Own Path
Are you an independent thinker or just parroting politics? - Be Your Own Policy Advisor
While our Digital Twin Tool is cooking, you can still play pundit. Add your scores to this week’s issue here. - Break Free From the Echo Chamber
Amaze your friends and family with your wonkish skills. Get outside your news silo. - Why Care What Others Think?
You’re not just talking politics but life with loved ones. - Four Kinds of Love
We all juggle self-sacrifice, nurturing, tough love, and self-love. What’s your mix on your best day? - Family and Politics
Caring about what matters to those around you? That’s just what families—and good citizens—do.
Debt Ceiling Conclusion:
By the Numbers
We predict an 84% ±2 vast super-majority of roles in this country to support Invoking the 14th Amendment to Avoid a Debt Default, including a majority of each of the four sides of the political table, making this a US Public Policy Leaderboard (US-PPL) worthy idea.
Congress’s approval rating is 21%, the Supreme Court’s is 40%, the media’s 27%, and the average score of the policies on the PolicyKeys™ National Idea Leaderboard is 73%, with many above 80%—Politics 4.0 is already 2x to 3x better model of US political sentiment and direction than Politics (as usual) 3.0.
Methodology
- Balanced Views, No Blind Spots
When sizing up the Noisy Guests, we give you the scoop from both sides. Whether it’s “change” or “keep it as is,” we cover all bases. No selective hearing here. - The Web of Influence
We dig deep, exploring who influences who. Is it a tight-knit group in favor or a loose coalition against it? We map it out. - The Political Table—Up Close
We go 360°, scoring every angle: Info Walls, Culture Windows, Bias Columns, and Influence Rows. You get the full picture.
We’ve decoded the political DNA from every angle. No corners cut, no voices muted.
You can read more about PolicyKeys™ in the upcoming book, Politics 4.0: How Gamification, AI, and National Idea Leaderboards Can Help You Depolarize America. The Observatory of Public Sector Innovation (OPSI) at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has recognized PolicyKeys™ for digital engagement.
The Weekly Puzzle
New puzzles drop every Monday at 7 a.m. ET on PolicyKeys.com. Step into 16 sets of 8 rival roles weekly and predict their ‘Yes or No’ to the big question.
Our AI and team sift through 4,000+ variables, over 16 million combinations all to save you the brainwork. Top ideas that win a four-way political nod land on the US Public Policy Leaderboard (US-PPL).
Anthem
Where Can We Agree? (Why Don’t You Want To Know?)
You can play this week’s puzzle at PolicyKeys.com.
Fly Higher
The Validity of the Public Debt Shall Not Be Questioned
Constitution.congress.gov
Average Net Worth
US News & World Report
US Median Household Income
St Louis Fed
Average Household Debt
Motley Fool
US Total Net Worth
Reuters
The Rise and Fall of American Growth
Princeton University Press
The Clinton Surplus
FactCheck.org
U6 Unemployment over 15% in 2008
St Louis Fed
The 2030s Great Depression
ITR Economics
Why America Will Remain the World’s Only Superpower
American Enterprise Institute
How much would a debt default damage the US?
Christian Science Monitor
Have a source for us? Contact info (at) policykeys (dot) com.
It takes guts to see things from all four sides of the political table.
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