It is proper for Congress to legislate a national "debt limit" to curb excessive and irresponsible spending. The trouble is that Congress never means it.

When big spending brings the government near the "limit," Congress just raises it.

With out-of-control federal spending indicating the "debt limit" of $12.1 trillion -- yes, trillion -- will be hit next month, Congress is not moving to solve real debt problems but simply seeking to raise the ineffective "limit."

Congress keeps spending more, often trying to "buy" our votes and often for clearly unconstitutional purposes. So we have really unlimited and growing debt -- plus a huge cost of paying the interest on it.