Letter to the Editor: Lack of negotiation forced government shutdown
[box]The following is a letter submitted to the editor regarding a reader’s opinion. These opinions do not reflect the opinions of the Dubois County Free Press or its staff, but we believe in providing a venue for individuals in our community to voice their opinions.[/box]
For the first time in 17 years, the federal government has been shut down. However, it didn’t have to come to this. The House of Representatives passed not one, not two, but three responsible, bipartisan bills that would have continued to fund the government, delay the Obamacare individual mandate for one year, and repeal the medical device tax.
This should have been a solution that could have found common ground between both sides and the government could have remained open for business.
Harry Reid just could not let that happen. Instead of coming to the negotiating table to talk out the differences, he refused to negotiate and in effect shut down the government. Where was President Obama during all of this? He was on the sideline encouraging Harry Reid and stating that he would not negotiate with Congress. He won’t negotiate with Congress, but yet he is more than eager to have a sit down, face-to-face meeting, with the new President of Iran. The liberals can talk about compromise all they want, but their actions speak louder than their words.
The only “good” news out of this is that many essential services will stay open. Social Security and unemployment checks will still go out. Medicaid and Medicare will remain operational; and thanks to House Republicans, the military personnel will still receive their paychecks. Dr. Bucshon has been fighting for fairness for all Hoosiers in the House and he has requested that his pay be withheld until the shutdown is over. The House did its job and worked through the weekend to try and avoid a government shutdown. It is time for the Senate to act.
Ryan Schuetter Jasper, IN
Both parties are to blame. What corporation hired these people to run our country? Wait a minute I mean what American citizens elected these people. Either way they all need to be fired!
I actually agree with this reply-assessment, but the original letter makes a valid point: As a leader – THE leader – responsible for true leadership and for the good of the country (“the American people”), the president (Obama) should have stepped in and accepted the compromise to avert the shutdown. Not only that, it would have provided needed time to work out the glitches and other issues plaguing the start-up of his (un-)Affordable Care Act.
As a side-note on that, Obama was touting the mass rush to sign up as a reason for the website problems. In reality, while there may have been a rush, it wasn’t to sign up, but instead to simply get information on the plan – how it works, options, costs, etc. – as no one seems to know. When these costs are clear, especially for the 18-30-something group that is so critical for the plan’s success, look out. I can’t believe those pushing and defending this plan are in touch with reality – what’s happening in the workplace and how it’s costing so many so much already, apart from the plan itself. To force this mandatory plan on all the people without another form of qualifying insurance or pay a compounding annual fine is socialism, pure and simple.
It wasn’t a compromise. Cruz and his ilk are asking for a reprieve while they gather forces. Like the previous 44 attempts to repeal, that would fail to.
Obamacare is law. It was ruled constitutional.
The compromises were made when the public option was removed (which would have helped the younger group) among other things.
If this hostage taking tactic works, expect that the same thing can happen over repealing medicare or enforcing marriage equality.
“Obamacare is law. It was ruled constitutional.” No, the Supreme Court issued an opinion. The only parties with proper authority, the State legislatures, have yet to render a decision.
I prefer the law be fully implemented. What can’t work, won’t work. Then, we can go about fixing a broken healthcare system with free market solutions for free people.
Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying, but State legislatures do not declare constitutionality. If they did, the laws they enacted would be beyond reproach. Feel free to look up laws enacted by state legislatures in the past ten years that were overturned by the supreme court.
State Legislatures can continue to challenge the constitutionality of laws…which is then ruled on by the courts. They cannot simply ignore federal laws that have not been ruled unconstitutional. Even states that ignore the federal marijuana laws cannot stop federal raids.
This is why constitutional cases go all the way to the Supreme Court if the losing party continues to disagree a the ruling.
Of course you would prefer the law to be implemented. Then you guys can do your best to break like you have done to the govt ever since you lost the election. Just look at what the Indiana AG is doing…attempting to stop subsidies for the insurance.
If you think the law is so awful, list the parts you hate then tell me how the law will work without those to enact the parts you like.
For instance, do you think insurance companies should be allowed to deny coverage to those with pre-existing conditions? If not, then how do you propose to prevent overwhelming insurance companies with folks that wait until they get sick to get insurance?
Dr. Buschon needs to go back to being a doctor–something he knows how to do. He does NOT have the best interests of his constituents in mind, but keeps pushing the agenda of the few, the wealthy, and the extreme right-wingers. It is my understanding that there are members of his own party organizing for a suitable “replacement” for the next election, and, even if that isn’t true, he will face a real challenge in the general election. As regards the so-called shutdown, this in on the backs of the Republican-infested House of Representatives, and is a national disgrace!
How can you say this is all in the shoulders of the republicans? That Just shows how uninformed you are. You are also showing you democrat side! US democrats won’t compromise on anything and we will cry until we get our way and then we will blame everything on the republicans. Last I checked the republicans were the only ones trying to solve this problem!