0 ceiling, it's a few more steps to explain why that's such a disaster. so again my assumption is they're thinking just from a pure messaging standpoint that it would be easier to say, you know, we're holding the debt ceiling, you know, because we're trying to be tough in a way that doesn't quite sound to average americans as devastating, even though it would be, as ezra points out, more devastating. >> somebody needs to explain economics. congressman, i do want to get your opinion on syria. obviously alarming reports about potential chemical weapons. you've been relund can't to get the u.s. further involved there. give me your take, and has your view changed about what the u.s. should be doing? >> not at all. every time there's a breakout in hostilities or combat or violence, it seems as though they come to america, and without going to the congress, the president's, republican or democrat, said we are going to introduce troops. well, i know where those troops are. they come from the poorer communities in our great country. i know, i've been in one of these things. having said that, syria is important not only to the united states, but to the region. it would seem to me that that's why we have a united nations. i don't see the united states telling the egyptians what to do, the syrians what to do. they've got major problems and how that ends up, so will the world be impacted, especially israel. having said that, why not take this to the united nations? why not have the european union and the arab countries come and say this is not a united states problem alone? we all take more than our share of the responsibility action but to take all of it, it just doesn't make sense. >> important views, thank you congressman, a combat veteran as well. thank you. as well as karen finney. i want to remind you you can catch karen every saturday and sunday right here at 4:00 p.m. on msnbc. coming up, the reverend jesse jackson talks about voting rights and the anniversary march on washington. later, a lesson in courage and compassion in the face of gun violence from one very tough woman. do not let anybody in the building, including the police. >> okay. stay on the line with me, ma'am. >> i'm in the front office. he ran outside and started shooting. >> okay. (announcer) at scottrade, our clients trade and invest exactly how they want. with scottrade's online banking, i get one view of my bank and brokerage accounts with one login... to easily move my money when i need to. plus, when i call my local scottrade office, i can talk to someone who knows how i trade. because i don't trade like everybody. i trade like me. i'm with scottrade. (announcer) scottrade. awarded five-stars from smartmoney magazine. ♪ now you can give yourself a kick in the rear! v8 v-fusion plus energy. natural energy from green tea plus fruits and veggies. need a little kick? ooh! could've had a v8. in the juice aisle.