Republicans Trying to Shut Down Government

by: Jeremiah

Sun Feb 20, 2011 at 12:45:01 PM EST

One way or another Republican leaders are trying to shut down the United States government.  House Republicans passed a continuing resolution that makes $60 billion in additional cuts from a budget that was already strategically cut $40 billion by Democrats.  Republicans are using a machete in a situation that calls for a scalpel.  What does this mean for society?  It means that we will have less people protecting the borders; less investigators making sure food is safe; and an recovering economy that takes a sucker punch right on the chin.  

So how have Republicans responded?  At the risk of job losses in the economy, Speaker Boehner has said, "So it goes."  Sarah Palin has said a government shutdown would be good for the country.  I guess to hell with the people not receiving their Social Security checks.  Funny how the people that beat you over the head with their ultra nationalism are the same ways that seem to hate our government.  

Everyone recognizes the need to address the large deficit.  What pisses me off about this whole process is the unending hypocrisy of how the GOP has approached the cuts.  They were absolutely committed to extending billions in crippling deficit driving Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans but are the first to say we should increase the retirement age for someone that has made minimum age their entire life at a back breaking job.  They are all about cutting health benefits to the working poor but voted to protect millions in subsidies to South American cotton farmers and advertising support to NASCAR.  How out of touch these folks are would be funny if it weren't so damned serious.

The President and Democratic Senate, this includes you Manchin, must protect the country from this hypocritical assault from the Right.  We must take a balanced approach as we reduce the deficit and protect the long term viability of the country.