This is no way to run a country

Even if Congress can reach an agreement to renew the Federal government's spending authority before it expires this Monday, which is looking increasingly unlikely, there is a much more serious battle brewing over the push to raise the debt ceiling before the Treasury runs out of money sometime shortly after 17th October. We have no idea exactly how this stand-off will be resolved and even less of an idea exactly when any agreement might be reached. But, at this stage, we would be lying if we said we were confident of a positive outcome.