Politics Over People
I’ve said it here before that no one associated with Washington, D.C. politics looks good as a result of this government shutdown. The level of being out-of-touch on both sides of the political aisle is stunning.
That was brought home yet again yesterday when embattled Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was asked about his party’s shutdown strategy…and he said the quiet part out loud.
“Every day gets better for us,” he said…meaning that the longer the shutdown continues, the better he thinks it is for his political party.
And therein lies the problem. It’s all about the political chess match, scoring partisan points, and not at all about good public policy.
By the way, there are plenty of Republicans who are playing politics with this, too; the GOP House leadership refuses to gavel into session to handle other matters, as the Senate is doing, to make some sort of point—although what, I’m not sure I know.
The House could meet to—heaven forbid—go back to regular order and pass the 12 spending bills that are required to create a budget. But since that hasn’t been done this century, why start now?
So again, plenty of disgusting behavior and tactics within both parties, in both chambers of Congress.
Next Wednesday is the 15th of the month, the day when some federal employees—including members of the military—will start missing paychecks. The impact of the government shutdown has already greatly affected agriculture at a crucial time, harvest—and not in a good way.
But according to the leader of the party blocking reopening the government, “Every day gets better for us.”
Maybe for them. Not for Americans, however.
