The very thought that the Republicans would play chicken at all with an economy that is trying to come back from a collapse is fucking totally ridiculous.
Only if you haven't studied the depression at all. Rich people can benefit during such events. They stockpile enough goodies to ride it out at the beginning, and they use their wealth to buy land that ordinary people are losing due to the financial crash. When the markets recover they come out even further ahead, and We The People even further behind.
They should have voted to raise the debt ceiling for no other reason than that's what they are there for.
No, not it is not. They are there to serve their own interests. The majority of 'em, anyway.