US Congress - The Shutdown

[Portchester PFC]

How the hell can this be allowed to happen ?

I assume that all the state funded congress types and other government types that have allowed this debacle to happen will also have their wages suspended until this is resolved ? If they do i bet it gets resolved a damn sight quicker than if they don't.

[BaffinsBlue]

http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/S ... =soc_fcbks

[uspompeyfan]

How the hell can this be allowed to happen ?

I assume that all the state funded congress types and other government types that have allowed this debacle to happen will also have their wages suspended until this is resolved ? If they do i bet it gets resolved a damn sight quicker than if they don't.

Well I think that while Congress moved to try and make a deal, it was the Democrats who refused to budge an inch from their stance. The Republicans were prepared to move a budget to fund every other part of Government except for the funding of Obamacare - the Democrats refused to move from their stance.

Obamacare has been shown to be unworkable in its current form. Democrats still refuse to change it.

[Miss Tickle's bottom]

Well I think that while Congress moved to try and make a deal, it was the Democrats who refused to budge an inch from their stance. The Republicans were prepared to move a budget to fund every other part of Government except for the funding of Obamacare - the Democrats refused to move from their stance.

Obamacare has been shown to be unworkable in its current form. Democrats still refuse to change it.

Do the board prizes have a 'Most Predictable Post of the Year' category? If so, entries are closed.

[uspompeyfan]

Well I think that while Congress moved to try and make a deal, it was the Democrats who refused to budge an inch from their stance. The Republicans were prepared to move a budget to fund every other part of Government except for the funding of Obamacare - the Democrats refused to move from their stance.

Obamacare has been shown to be unworkable in its current form. Democrats still refuse to change it.

Do the board prizes have a 'Most Predictable Post of the Year' category? If so, entries are closed.

Yes, I am a Conservative as most on this board are probably aware. However, you are prepared to listen to left wing biased tv rather than the actual events as they unfolded out here.

Over 85% of Government has been funded. These happen to be the essential areas of Government.

Congress has the responsibility to hold the purse strings and hence has every right to question the non-essential areas of Government when spending is out of control.

[Portchester PFC]

I am not going to get into the political argument, what i find absolutely distastefull is that state workers are being sent home indefinately with no pay for no fault of their own whilst a bunch of supposed growns ups argue the toss whilst on no doubt handsome full pay ?

If the politicians lost their pay whilst they bicker maybe that would focus their minds a bit more eh ?

[Miss Tickle's bottom]

i

Yes, I am a Conservative as most on this board are probably aware. However, you are prepared to listen to left wing biased tv rather than the actual events as they unfolded out here.

Over 85% of Government has been funded. These happen to be the essential areas of Government.

Congress has the responsibility to hold the purse strings and hence has every right to question the non-essential areas of Government when spending is out of control.

Point 1. I'm perfectly happy that you are a conservative - I object to the fact that you are a closed-minded conservative. That was the point of my post. Can you genuinely not understand this?

Point 2. You're making things up about me. Again. I'm referring to the 'left wing biased tv' point - you have no idea whatsoever how I form my views. I do tend to look for evidence and facts as a starting-point, though - how weird is that?

[Milkins]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

I quite like the idea that some of the money I earn contributes towards the well being of everyone.

[theresonly1linvoyprimus]

I'm sure it's much more complicated, but for me i just see it as politicians refusing to subsidize free health care for everyone in their own country.

Though i did see that the last time congress shut was when Clinton was in charge, and sex scandal apart, he was fantastic at bringing around economic stability. Hopefully that's a sign (though i doubt it)

[Earl Grey]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

I quite like the idea that some of the money I earn contributes towards the well being of everyone.

+1

[HappyHour@TheBreweryOfLife]

Score one for Parliamentary Democracy.

[HappyHour@TheBreweryOfLife]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

I quite like the idea that some of the money I earn contributes towards the well being of everyone.

+ another 1

[Lost in Transportation]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

Constitution says "no".

Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act is a finance bill. So much of US Government operations occur through 'finance' bills as the Constitution enforces separation of powers. In this case, its the states that have the power to create health systems and a variety of systems there were. If all the states had adopted the Hawaii healthcare system then Obamacare wouldn't have been necessary. As it is, the ACA is only a step towards a more comprehensive coverage across the US population.

[miltoninLA]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

Constitution says "no".

Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act is a finance bill. So much of US Government operations occur through 'finance' bills as the Constitution enforces separation of powers. In this case, its the states that have the power to create health systems and a variety of systems there were. If all the states had adopted the Hawaii healthcare system then Obamacare wouldn't have been necessary. As it is, the ACA is only a step towards a more comprehensive coverage across the US population.

Maybe, the Constitution also allows for the Federal Government to set rules for interstate trade, as healthcare expenses are a significant cost (17% of GDPish) the Supremes have ruled its fair game for Fed governance.

[Lost in Transportation]

What I find incredible is that a country like the USA cannot find the humanity to just get on with forming a national health system.

Constitution says "no".

Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act is a finance bill. So much of US Government operations occur through 'finance' bills as the Constitution enforces separation of powers. In this case, its the states that have the power to create health systems and a variety of systems there were. If all the states had adopted the Hawaii healthcare system then Obamacare wouldn't have been necessary. As it is, the ACA is only a step towards a more comprehensive coverage across the US population.

Maybe, the Constitution also allows for the Federal Government to set rules for interstate trade, as healthcare expenses are a significant cost (17% of GDPish) the Supremes have ruled its fair game for Fed governance.

I don't disagree with that but a national health system ala the UK would be unconstitutional.

The Affordable Care Act (more popular than the hated Obamacare) isn't the big socialist act that critics pretend it is. Its not as comprehensive as Medicare is for example and its aspirations are lower. I don't think its a great piece of legislation but its a response to a dysfunctional marketplace that currently exists in most US states.

However, the Republicans are really taking the urine with this shutdown. They lost the votes in both houses of Congress, the President signed it into law, the Supreme Court ruled it constitutional as you state Milton, the President then won another election after signing the ACA into law. Its a 5-lock pass that the Republicans are trying to overturn. They lost and need to accept that rather than behaving like bandits.