Government Shutdown 2011: See How Much Republican Politicians Are Willing to Screw the U.S.?

A potential government shutdown is all the news right now, as it should be. The U.S. government could grind to a screeching halt due to Congress’ inability to agree on a budget. But many of the news agencies covering this possible shutdown are painting the picture much too evenly. (i.e. Is it the Democrats? Is it the Republicans? Who’s causing this potential disaster?…)

The answer is pretty clear. Take a look at this quote from 2010 by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

Yes, that is their goal, that has been their goal from before Obama stepped into office and they are willing to go to all lengths to make Obama look like a failure, it seems. They are willing to hold the U.S. hostage in order to make Obama seem like a failure.

They have tried to sabotage economic stimulus efforts that have worked to keep the United States out of a tremendous recession. They have sabotaged all viable efforts of competing with China in the clean energy race that will determine the economic leaders of the coming century (see Bloomberg’s recent article: China Buries Obama’s ‘Sputnik’ Goal for Clean-Energy Use). They have completely attacked science. And they have been forthright in their attack on the EPA, the Clean Air Act, and a livable climate.

This is not what Republican constituents want. Not all of them or even most of them, I would say. This is an important point.

Republican politicians say whatever their pollsters tell them they need to say to win votes. But then they turned around and only do what Big Industry tells them to do, which in many cases is not actually good for the American public, unless you support the idea of a plutocracy, and not what their constituents  actually want.

In Comes 2011 Government Shutdown

Now, what could really make Obama look like a failure? A total government shutdown. If this occurs, I think it’s pretty clear what 2011 will be remembered for in the United States.

Furthermore, with less to lose (politically, that is) from a government shutdown, Republicans can push and push and push for ridiculous requirements, trying to get Democrats to give in and sacrifice their values and what their constituents expect of them in order to please Big Industry and let them make another billion or so at the cost of the American people.

They are trying to completely dismantle water and air protections that make the United States a wonderful places to live. Want China-level pollution? Apparently Republican politicians think they wouldn’t mind.

Their attack on clearly confirmed scientific findings that climate change is happening (at a nearly unprecedented and completely catastrophic rate) and that humans are the main, if not sole, reason for that are completely ridiculous and a great harm to the United States and the world as a whole. But they don’t care, nor do their coal and oil giant buddies who fund their campaigns and give them the opportunity to convince the public they are worth voting for (when they are not and should really be imprisoned for what they are pushing).

But the environment isn’t the only issue.

“Republicans want to shut down the government because they think there’s nothing more important than keeping women from getting cancer screenings. This is indefensible and everyone should be outraged,” Reid said on the Senate floor today.

They will go after anything they can. Why not? The result is just that Obama would look like a failure… oh yeah, and the United States would be crushed by that.

Photo via kevindooley

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5 thoughts on “Government Shutdown 2011: See How Much Republican Politicians Are Willing to Screw the U.S.?”

  1. There was a time when many political statements and actions would have been considered as TREASON against the United States.
    Now we only shun 4 letter words.
    The electorate needs to focus on important stuff – the things which allow our nation to be sucessful.

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