When the water levels rise, air will be pumped into the barriers raising them up to block the tidal flow and protect the city from flooding.

CNN: New satellite data reveals sea-level rise

If in the process of preserving those cash flows, the politicians who get them block the raising of the debt ceiling, we could experience a sell-off in U.S. government securities which would raise interest rates here and could put the brakes on economic growth globally.

FORBES: Pushing U.S. Closer to the Brink

There have been a few instances where states have tried to block insurers from raising their prices.

FORBES: Sebelius To HMOs: If You Raise Rates 10% You Will Answer To Me