Osler's Razor

Shut it down. It doesn't matter! The federal government gives us nothing. Who is hurt if it isn't there? Almost no one.
 

(looks for /sarcasm tag, sees none)

An excellent bit of trolling, Anon 12:22. I see you have this internet thing down.
 

I think it is ridiculous that we have allowed Congress (collectively) to make such a mountain out of the molehill that is any effort to "cut the deficit" without touching non-discretionary spending.

Let's just compromise at a smooth $40 billion and keep everything running long enough to reform the big entitlements. And who knows, maybe with the government running at full speed (shown to be somewhere around 10-15 mph) GE will actually pay taxes next year...but I doubt it.

On a related note: The American Federation of Government Employees is warning that the "involuntary servitude" of essential personnel associated with a government shutdown would violate the 13th Amendment. What tomfoolery is this?
 

CTL -

Out of curiousity, why is it tomfollery? It's the reason you can't get specific performance on service contracts. Given, that previous expansion, why is the principle not the same?
 

*tomfoolery
 

Anon 12:22, for one, it hurts those who have not yet gotten their tax refund check.
 

I must say, I'm generally in support of government shutdowns. I think the federal government shutting down, even for a brief time, represents an expansion of liberty and a brief respite from the yoke of oppression. I really hate the federal government.

That being said, I think Obama views this as a turning point moment. The Democrats, at least the ones you can get quotes from, seem to think that because the last shutdown in '95 was blamed on the Republicans and cost the Republicans leverage that this shutdown will similarly be blamed on the Republicans, stop Republican momentum heading into 2012, and allow Obama to coast into a second term with a Democratic Senate, and put the brakes on Republican efforts to reform spending (like Paul Ryan's recently proposed 2012 budget). This might work. If it does, then Obama might get this whole thing turned around in his favor. At the same time, if it backfires, then it could be his final gambit to stop the bleeding.

All I remember about '95 was that every day the government was shut down bridges did not tumble into the sea, hordes of old people didn't die without their precious government money, monkeys did not type hamlet, and cats and dogs did not start living together. Everything generally seemed unchanged. I bet if it happens again tomorrow it will be pretty much the same this time.
 

I agree with RRL that this is a key moment in the Obama administration if the shutdown lasts for any significant period of time (I'm thinking more than a week). Obama is betting that he'll get the Clinton treatment and that the public will view it as the Congressional Republicans fault. The Congressional Republicans seem to think this time is different and that Obama will get blamed. It's a big gamble for both sides, but maybe a bigger gamble for Obama.

Right now, his poll numbers (and likely his reelection chance) are down, but not out. If things continued onward, Obama is probably still the favorite over the Republican field that is seemingly mostly composed of loons. But if a government shutdown occurs, Obama is putting all his eggs in the same basket. It allows the eventual Republican nominee to easily close the gap. It's a big risk.

Of course, President Bartlett also won the government shutdown standoff over Congressional Republicans, so maybe Obama isn't risking that much.

AMT
 

All this grandstanding is good theatre, but nothing can be done until the entitlements are cut. Unfortunately, the masses have learned that they can vote themselves 'bread and circuses', so entitlement cuts won't happen unless the politicians collectively grow backbones. Since there aren't any pigs performing aerial ballets around the capitol, this seems unlikely.

The Republicans seem to have given the entire party over to the loons, so they don't offer any practical solutions. They seem too busy trying to promote radical right wing religious and political causes instead of governing. Not to mention all the breaks for big business and damage to the environment.

Oh, well, when I am Empress of the Universe (next week) I'll solve all this mess. If only next week would come...... I've been waiting for years.

Lee
 

Lee for President!
Osler, that modeling school totally ripped you off. If you know what I mean. Like, your hair.
 

Anon. 11:44-- Mostly I learned how to smoke. Lots of smoking.
 

Osler, that is so boss. All the smoking. Sweet, sweet smoking...
 

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