Ah, nothing better than incompetent government and the blame game; bickering at each other over whether or not Children's Health Insurance Programs(CHIP) and DACA(Dreamers) would continue.. I mean, really? These are people's lives at stake, and our GOP continues to point fingers, lie, and show complete incompetence in governing. I am embarrassed as a citizen of the United States. As other countries laugh and have to pick up our lack in leadership.
Has Anything Really Changed?
Whether you lean right or left, both parties have been in government shutdown messes. The longest one ever recorded was in Bill Clinton's presidency, which lasted from December 16, 1996 until January 6, 1996. (1) At that time, Republican's controlled Congress and couldn't come to a budget agreement with Bill Clinton.
This past weekend, federal employees were placed on furlough - "leave of absence, especially that granted to a member of the armed services." (2) Non essential agencies did not work, because the budget is not in place to pay them. Regarding our Military, it is essential, but the troops, in combat and not, would not have been paid during a shutdown. National Parks, Federal Museums and Zoos would also have closed down. Smaller DC city services were also put on hold.
Yes, and Unfortunately We Made History
Starting last Saturday(January 20th, 2018) the Federal Government shut down.
This is the first time in History one party controls both Congress and the White House and employees are not being paid.(3)
The fact that the GOP blames Democrats for the government showdown is outrageous.. how can you control the Presidency, the Senate, and the House of Representatives and pass a budget last year that completely robs the middle class via the Tax Cut(giving them pennies and change) compared to the 1%, who continue to profit, especially over the holidays, at the rest of the 99%'s(our) expense? It's sickening.
Our GOP Let Down the Dreamers and Children
Mitch McConnell(AKA Turtle), the Senate Majority Leader states that "Every day we spend arguing about keeping the lights on is another day we cannot spend negotiating DACA or defense spending or any of our other shared priorities."
But listen to what the Turt-Turt did this time... Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, voted against funding the military during the shutdown. How can a party campaign on the military and its strengths, when they aren't even willing to pay them during the Government Shutdown they CAUSED.
We also got McConnell's 'word'(which is worth nothing) about the DACA program that allows the hundreds of thousands of young, mostly underaged undocumented immigrants stay in the US after Obama's legislation. From a utilitarian point of view, immigrants are good.
"Nearly all economists agree that immigrants — those here legally or not — benefit the overall economy. Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, told me. Shierholz also said that “there is a consensus that, on average, the incomes of families in this country are increased by a small, but clearly positive amount, because of immigration.”
(4)!
Source: http://reason.com/archives/2016/07/01/immigrants-are-good-for-the-us-economy
In addition, the Republicans claim to be "saving" children's health insurance.. but are doing the complete opposite. Paul Ryan loves to act and did just that when he lied saying that "On Thursday, this House passed a bill to keep the government open and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which covers nearly 9 million children from low-income families"
Here's where they are wrong: Republicans cut funding for community clinics and hospitals that care for low-income patients.. including children. "It’s self defeating to fund CHIP but not health centers since most kids with CHIP receive their care at community health centers. So they may have CHIP but they won’t be able to access services because their Health Center is closed." (5)
But once again, I guess we can use children's lives and tax paying, contributing residents of our own country to pass other political agendas.
Two Days Later, the Can Has Been Kicked... until February 8
It was a weekend filled of contempt and lies. The Senate voted 81-18 to fund the government through February 8th.(5) The statements released by Trump and the White House the past few days are so full of shit, it's honestly amazing how they even kept themselves funding for ONE entire year.. oh wait that was the Democrats. We have a long way to go this year, but Bernie does a good job of summing this past weekend up:
Thanks for reading!