"The present day proponents of the 14th amendment do imply that the President does have the authority under that proviso to determine which debts can be honored for payment and which debts are not to be paid." Edward, even if the above were correct, which I do not believe, it would still not give the President authority to abitrarily raise the debt ceiling. That is a legislative and monetary matter, which are the provice of Congress. I think you and I are on the same page. Stan