[sovnade]

Yep - the fact that they listed this at the very top of the reasons above any kind of debt or spending numbers is pretty telling.

And they're not wrong

[nostromo]

Except it's not.

> Ratings Downgrade: The rating downgrade of the United States reflects the expected fiscal deterioration over the next three years, a high and growing general government debt burden, and the erosion of governance relative to 'AA' and 'AAA' rated peers over the last two decades that has manifested in repeated debt limit standoffs and last-minute resolutions.

[janalsncm]

I believe the “holding the debt ceiling hostage” falls under erosion of governance.