Debt Theatre

I've tried to tune out this debt ceiling theatre, but the sheer insanity of it all keeps pulling me back in. Explain to me why the situation is configured that Congress can vote to spend a certain amount of money, but then needs to turn around and approve that can borrow the money that it needs in order to spend the money it just voted to spend? Does any other country in the world work this way?

Speaking of the rest of the world, they seem pretty united in their aghast confusion on the situation.

At the end of the day, I have no idea if the deal that's currently being proposed is a good idea or a bad idea. It certainly seems like Obama lost big time, conceeding most of his main concerns at the start of the negotiation process and thus being forced ever-more rightward. But i've also read two articles stating that things might not be as bad as they seem. As always, time will tell. But man is the process ugly.