A vote will be held later today to possibly end what may go down as the most senseless shutdown in U.S. government history.
We are now in day 43 of what is already the longest period of time ever that things have been shut down, and the question many are asking is “for what?”
A Senate resolution passed the filibuster mark earlier this week without any guarantees that health insurance subsidies will be extended. Several Democrats changed their minds after only receiving a promise of a vote, sometime soon.
Republicans arguably paid a steep price, as well, as their polling numbers are down, recent city and state elections didn’t go well for them, and they are the ones who have to answer for a lack of food subsidies and thousands of flight cancellations and delays.
The biggest problem of all is that both sides were looking for wins more than helping the American people.
You can tell that by the way that people went after the Democrats who switched sides, with people in their own party (and members of the media) talking about how they “caved” and how they didn’t want to “press their advantage”.
Here’s the thing. When the government is shut down, no one wins. People don’t get paid. Food assistance programs stop. Thousands upon thousands of essential workers actually have to show up for work and then take part-time jobs after hours to feed their families and keep the lights on. Air travel became a living nightmare.
It is the job of government at all levels to serve the people, support them in their daily lives and do the job for which you were elected.
Politicians on both sides of the border would be better served looking for ways to actually help people, and not for another checkmark in the win column.
I’m Paul Martin and that’s what I see looking Beyond the Headlines.
