Whereas raising the debt-ceiling is necessary to pay for past, rather than future, expenditures;
Whereas refusing to raise the debt ceiling would cause significantly more damage to the economy of the United States than the attack on 11 September 2001;
Whereas threatening to damage the economy of the United States in order to advance a political agenda is equivalent to hostage-taking;
Whereas negotiating with hostage-takers only encourages future hostage taking;
The undersigned demand that President Obama refuse to negotiate in any way, shape, or form over raising the debt ceiling.