Government Shutdown, Circa 1995

The number one song on the American charts during the late fall, early winter Government Shutdown of 1995-1996 was One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.



I must have been paying a lot more attention to politics in those days than I was to music, because I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever heard this song. Sort of nice, though.

Don’t even think of asking me what’s at the top of the charts today. And believe you me, I’m not even paying that much attention to THIS government shutdown.

Government Shutdown

My first, only and (probably) last post on the government shutdown.

From The Washington Post.  The emphasis is mine:

House Republicans huddled late Monday and, according to a GOP aide, gave the speaker an ovation when he informed them that he was advising the House Administration Committee to begin preparing for a possible shutdown. That process includes alerting lawmakers and senior staff about which employees would not report to work if no agreement is reached.

Says it all.

They hate government. They cheer at the thought of government going away. They work to make government go away permanently.

The average American ain’t too hot on government right now, either. From Robert Reich:

Which is where the cynicism comes in – and the shutdowns. Republicans may get blamed now. But if the shutdowns contribute to the belief among Americans that government doesn’t work, Republicans win over the long term. As with the rise of the Tea Partiers, the initiative shifts to those who essentially want to close it down for good.

That’s why it’s so important that the President have something more to say to the American people than “I want to cut spending, too, but the Republican cuts go too far.” The “going too far” argument is no match for a worldview that says government is the central problem to begin with.

Obama must show America that the basic choice is between two fundamental views of this nation. Either we’re all in this together, or we’re a bunch of individuals who happen to live within these borders and are mainly on their own.

American increasing cynicism about government (plus) President’s Obama’s meaningless blah-blah-blah-blah-blah (minus) any meaningful dialogue about why government matters to us all (equals) we are royally screwed for the foreseeable future.