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A shut down would provide an opportunity for the American people to witness how much they accomplish on their own without government

Government Shutdown 2013: Something to Fear?



As the 2013 budget impasse in the Federal Government grows more protracted between Republicans who want to cut and Democrats who want to retain, the closing deadline for a plan grows more ominous. Without a budget with outlined appropriations, the U.S. Government will endure a partial shut down.
"Partial" is the key word, because the essential functions of government, including scheduled disbursements of Social Security, will remain funded. Many pundits and policy wonks claim that a government shutdown would be disastrous for the United States. In reality, a government shutdown would stop everything except essential services in this country. The military will still stand guard. The post office will still deliver mail, but they and other federal employees will not get paid. Even Social Security checks will still be mailed out, if there are employees and resources still in place to process them. National museums and parks will close. Applications for passports, welfare benefits, and for Social Security will not be processed. In effect, a government shut down would provide an opportunity for the American people to witness how much they accomplish on their own without government. Do we not have private agencies which deliver our mail, and deliver it more efficiently? Would it not be better for elderly and retired persons to save their own money, ensuring for themselves a more secure future? Could not private and local interests fare just as well (if not better) in managing parks and recreational facilities in this country?

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Notwithstanding legislators' wary recriminations about the 1995 shutdown, the Republicans can hold the high ground in this fight. Since Barack Obama became President, the United States electorate has grown much more aware, and outraged, by the deficit spending and the burgeoning national debt burdening this country. They also detest ObamaCare, which has robbed working Americans of full-time employment while forcing health care provides to cut costs, lay off staff, and ration care. A strong majority of Americans still oppose the law, wishing its repeal. Adding more injury to the injurious legislation, news affiliates throughout the country, including the Los Angeles Times, have reported a marked, significant increase in premiums for healthcare. While some states have opted out of the Medicare exchanges, states like California cannot welcome any new providers to create a marketplace of competition for health insurance buyers. Covered California, the Medicare exchange for the Golden State, has witnessed eight health insurance companies withdraw. Two companies remain, and one of them has signaled their growing desire to escape from the federal government red tape. So, Republicans have two winning issues coalesced into their lasting continuing resolution: fund the government, defund Obamacare. The bill may serve as the poison pill which will force moderate, vulnerable Democratic US Senators to declare their true allegiance: either the American people and the Constitution, or President Obama and his expansive federal overreach. Even if Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid removes the defunding provisions, his vulnerable 2014 Democratic colleagues will force their hand and lose either way. The House should be commended for their calculated courage on their 2013 resolution. The profligate appropriations, unsupportable entitlements, and utter irresponsibility of our lawmakers with tax-payers' money has brought this nation to this vulnerable turning point. A government shut-down may be just what it takes to shake loose services from the unconstitutional sway of the federal government and return them to state, local, and private initiatives, where they belong. If Americans realize that a stalled government hinders their daily lives far less than an active government, then the Republicans will have won the argument pressing for less federal regulation, intrusion, and control; and President Obama and the Democrats will have even fewer talking points to justify their statistagenda. I vaguely recall someone in President Obama's coterie asserting, "Never let a good crisis go to waste." The Republicans have nothing to lose in capitalizing on this extensive financial debacle, both the overspending and the unaffordable Affordable Care Act, to further their agenda, the long-term financial well-being of this nation.


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Arthur Christopher Schaper -- Bio and Archives

Arthur Christopher Schaper is a teacher-turned-writer on topics both timeless and timely; political, cultural, and eternal. A life-long Southern California resident, Arthur currently lives in Torrance.

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