Where We Live: The Government Shutdown
If a deal between lawmakers can’t be struck, the federal government shuts down
There’s a midnight deadline. If a deal between lawmakers and the White House can’t be struck, the federal government shuts down.
And the next question is…does it matter? We’re being assured that even in shut-down mode, our mail still gets delivered, entitlement benefits will still be paid, the military will keep fighting on three fronts.
But other services you count on from the government are still kind of up in the air. That expedited passport for the surprise Caribbean cruise? The big tax refund you were planning on to pay for said cruise?
Today we’ll get the historical perspective from Political analyst Bill Curry, who was in the Clinton White House during the last federal government shutdown – and was comptroller when the state briefly shut down during the Weicker administration.
Join the shutdown conversation
Send to friend
Printer-friendly version
Comments
Listener Email from Greg
I disagree with Bill Curry's observation regarding the two party's concerns about large budget cuts. While Democrats, and economists, are concerned that massive cuts will damage the economic recovery, Republicans are not concerned that a lack of cuts will do the same. That is simply not part of their analysis; they have an agenda and a vision that they are pursuing at any cost. To their credit, they have an agenda and a plan (unfortunately it is a plan that will hurt most Americans). On the other hand, the Democrats have no credibility, no vision and no spine. The Democratic party was handed a massive mandate in the 2008 election and utterly squandered it. We are only in the danger of a government shut down because they lacked the intelligence and courage to pass a budget while they controlled massive majorities in both houses of Congress and the Presidency. Now, with only a majority in the House, the Republicans are completely controlling the agenda.
The Democrats are either incompetent or complicit. Until the Democrats find some courage and discipline or until we have two political parties that aren't simply coke and diet coke versions of each other, we will continue to muddle along with the middle class and poor paying the price.
Post new comment