--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't see why anybody's playing chicken…" description: "\"I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.\" — Austan Goolsbee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg" --- # I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt… ![“I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.” quote by Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg) > “I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.” [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes treating the debt ceiling as a high‑stakes gamble that threatens stability. **In simple terms:** Debt ceiling shouldn't be a risky game. Key Takeaway Avoid political brinkmanship. Themes economics politics risk management Mood concerned analytical Type political economic When to use this quote - budget negotiations - legislative hearings - financial market analysis Key Concepts Fiscal policy public finance political strategy Questions to Reflect On - What are the real costs of a debt ceiling standoff? - Can alternative budgeting tools reduce tension? A Different Perspective Political realities may force compromises despite risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anybody Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anybody-playing-5467775/) [Ceiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceiling/) [Chicken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicken/) [Chicken Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicken-debt-5467774/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Debt ceiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt-ceiling/) [Playing Chicken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chicken-3791637/) [See](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/see/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why/) ## Related quotes > [The debt ceiling is not something to toy with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-debt-ceiling-is-not-something-to-toy-with/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [The hard part about playing 'chicken' is knowing when to flinch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-glenn/the-hard-part-about-playing-chicken-is-knowing-when-to-flinch/) [Scott Glenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-glenn/) > [Here's the perversity of Wall Street's psychology: The more Wall Street is convinced that Washington will act rationally and raise the debt ceiling, most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-ross-sorkin/here-s-the-perversity-of-wall-street-s-psychology-the-more-wall/) [Andrew Ross Sorkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-ross-sorkin/) > [Not raising the debt ceiling is not an automatic trigger for a default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/not-raising-the-debt-ceiling-is-not-an-automatic-trigger-for-a-default/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [I'm not going to raise the debt ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-yoho/i-m-not-going-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/) [Ted Yoho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-yoho/) > [I think what's important to understand is if the United States hits the debt ceiling and is unable to pay its debts, the consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-chenault/i-think-what-s-important-to-understand-is-if-the-united-states-hits/) [Kenneth Chenault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-chenault/) > [If we had decided on January 5, in the new House of Representatives, to make no new spending bills, the debt ceiling would've still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/if-we-had-decided-on-january-5-in-the-new-house-of-representatives-to/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [There was no avoiding the fact that we were going to hit our debt ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/there-was-no-avoiding-the-fact-that-we-were-going-to-hit-our-debt/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [If we weren't running deficits, if we weren't spending more than we were taking in, there would be no reason whatsoever to increase the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-johnson/if-we-weren-t-running-deficits-if-we-weren-t-spending-more-than-we/) [Ron Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-johnson/) > [I think at the end of the day we have to raise the debt ceiling, because America pays its bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terri-sewell/i-think-at-the-end-of-the-day-we-have-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling/) [Terri Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terri-sewell/) > [I think the whole issue of a debt ceiling makes no sense to me whatsoever. Anybody who is remotely adroit at arithmetic doesn't need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/i-think-the-whole-issue-of-a-debt-ceiling-makes-no-sense-to-me/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [You watch television and see what's going on on this debt ceiling issue. And what I consider to be a total lack of leadership…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wynn/you-watch-television-and-see-what-s-going-on-on-this-debt-ceiling/) [Steve Wynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wynn/) > [When President Obama was in the Senate, when he was a U.S. senator, he voted against raising the debt ceiling. And he said it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/when-president-obama-was-in-the-senate-when-he-was-a-u-s-senator-he/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [When President Obama asked Congress to raise the debt ceiling $2 trillion and offered sequestration as an offset, I opposed it. I did not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-turner/when-president-obama-asked-congress-to-raise-the-debt-ceiling-2/) [Mike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-turner/) > [It's not about what the speaker wants. It's not about necessarily what I want. There's two other principles involved here. It's what the constituents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-huelskamp/it-s-not-about-what-the-speaker-wants-it-s-not-about-necessarily-what/) [Tim Huelskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-huelskamp/) ## More by Austan Goolsbee > [It's clear that the medium and long-run fiscal challenges facing the country have to do with the rise of entitlement spending, they have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/it-s-clear-that-the-medium-and-long-run-fiscal-challenges-facing-the/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [The president is 100 percent for extending the tax cuts for 98.7 percent of small businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-president-is-100-percent-for-extending-the-tax-cuts-for-98-7/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [There's a certain kind of academic that comes to Washington and can't survive. They're the ones starting each sentence with 'The economic model says.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/there-s-a-certain-kind-of-academic-that-comes-to-washington-and-can-t/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [Only Barack Obama consistently opposed NAFTA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/only-barack-obama-consistently-opposed-nafta/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [The U.S. fiscal union has worked, in no small part, by enabling subsidies to the Mississippis without requiring the approval of the Minnesotas. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-u-s-fiscal-union-has-worked-in-no-small-part-by-enabling/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [If a lobbyist sets up shop, or a lawyer, in which they're receiving income through what is something like a tax loophole so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/if-a-lobbyist-sets-up-shop-or-a-lawyer-in-which-they-re-receiving/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [When I was at MIT, they had a beta test of Mosaic, the first popular browser. I remember looking at it, and there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/when-i-was-at-mit-they-had-a-beta-test-of-mosaic-the-first-popular/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [I believe - I'm not a political expert, but I believe there is a broad consensus, a middle ground if you will, that Democrats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/i-believe-i-m-not-a-political-expert-but-i-believe-there-is-a-broad/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [The data does not support that high-income tax cuts are the main drivers of growth, so I don't think that uncertainty over what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-data-does-not-support-that-high-income-tax-cuts-are-the-main/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [The share of income that small business people are paying in taxes is the lowest it has been in 65 years - since Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-share-of-income-that-small-business-people-are-paying-in-taxes-is/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [Trade has helped the economy grow. Simultaneously, a sizable number of Americans haven't shared in that bounty, and if we don't pay attention to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/trade-has-helped-the-economy-grow-simultaneously-a-sizable-number-of/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [We have to do everything we can to try to create jobs and get people back to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/we-have-to-do-everything-we-can-to-try-to-create-jobs-and-get-people/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [A lot more people are willing to invest in bonds denominated in euros. And there was the fiscal discipline argument, which is that this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/a-lot-more-people-are-willing-to-invest-in-bonds-denominated-in-euros/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [All I'll say is if you look at countries where it is - where they are rapidly growing, they're investing in their infrastructure. They're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/all-i-ll-say-is-if-you-look-at-countries-where-it-is-where-they-are/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [If you're going to be an academic who's involved in the world of policy, you have to be involved in the world that exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/if-you-re-going-to-be-an-academic-who-s-involved-in-the-world-of/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) [Explore all 69 Austan Goolsbee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) ## More Ceiling quotes > [The first thing I hear when I wake up is the sea, which is so close to our house that its reflections from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/the-first-thing-i-hear-when-i-wake-up-is-the-sea-which-is-so-close-to/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [I'd hit my head on the ceiling, standin on top of my cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-d-hit-my-head-on-the-ceiling-standin-on-top-of-my-cash/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [The message I like to convey to women and girls across the globe is that there is no glass ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venus-williams/the-message-i-like-to-convey-to-women-and-girls-across-the-globe-is/) [Venus Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venus-williams/) > [Dont flatter yourself, honey. The only fan you have is on the ceiling!..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-flatter-yourself-honey-the-only-fan-you-have-is-on-the-ceiling/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There's no such thing as a glass ceiling for women. It's just a thick layer of men.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-liswood/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-glass-ceiling-for-women-it-s-just-a-thick/) [Laura Liswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-liswood/) > [Work hard, earn a great living, get whatever you want out of life, have all the stuff you want. But there should be a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandy-duncan/work-hard-earn-a-great-living-get-whatever-you-want-out-of-life-have/) [Sandy Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandy-duncan/) > [“A chair, a table, a lamp. Above, on the white ceiling, a relief ornament in the shape of a wreath, and in the center…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/a-chair-a-table-a-lamp-above-on-the-white-ceiling-a-relief-ornament/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [I can write, He floated up to the ceiling, and a baby rabbit came out of his pocket, grew wings, and flew away. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humphrey-carpenter/i-can-write-he-floated-up-to-the-ceiling-and-a-baby-rabbit-came-out/) [Humphrey Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humphrey-carpenter/) > [We are unlimited beings. We have no ceiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/we-are-unlimited-beings-we-have-no-ceiling/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [I really like ceilings...I guess you could call me a Ceiling fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-really-like-ceilings-i-guess-you-could-call-me-a-ceiling-fan/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There are people who say that if you are told that your house has fallen you don't ask what about the ceiling or what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/there-are-people-who-say-that-if-you-are-told-that-your-house-has/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) > [We've removed the ceiling above our dreams. There are no more impossible dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/we-ve-removed-the-ceiling-above-our-dreams-there-are-no-more/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [If your ceiling should fall down, then you have lost a room, but gained a courtyard. Think of it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/if-your-ceiling-should-fall-down-then-you-have-lost-a-room-but-gained/) [Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/) > [In design-speak, 'a library' means a room lined with books, floor-to ceiling, but it all depends on the space you have. You may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nate-berkus/in-design-speak-a-library-means-a-room-lined-with-books-floor-to/) [Nate Berkus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nate-berkus/) > [The best advice I can give women at all levels is increase training. There are still areas where we have to break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-solis/the-best-advice-i-can-give-women-at-all-levels-is-increase-training/) [Hilda Solis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-solis/) [Browse all 194 Ceiling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ceiling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Austan Goolsbee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicken-with-the-debt-ceiling/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ceiling" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicken-with-the-debt-ceiling/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c29/austan-goolsbee-9855_ceiling_i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicke_3118780.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't see why anybody's playing chicken with the debt ceiling.” — Austan Goolsbee", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Austan Goolsbee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't see why anybody's playing...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicken-with-the-debt-ceiling/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/i-don-t-see-why-anybody-s-playing-chicken-with-the-debt-ceiling/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```