I just saw a FaceBook post on this piece from Thomas Sowell on the question of who is responsible for the shutdown. The basic premise is this...
There is really nothing complicated about the facts. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted all the money required to keep all government activities going — except for Obamacare.
This is not a matter of opinion. You can check the Congressional Record.
As for the House of Representatives’ right to grant or withhold money, that is not a matter of opinion either. You can check the Constitution of the United States. All spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives, which means that congressmen there have a right to decide whether or not they want to spend money on a particular government activity.
A perfectly logical explanation to someone searching for any thread of hope that perhaps this somehow isn't the fault of GOP after all. My counter below the fold...
Let's imagine this...
In imaginary Mr. Smith's house all allowance funding for the children is proposed by Mr. Smith (the House). This proposal is then sent to Mrs. Smith (the Senate). She takes it under consideration and returns her proposal to Mr. Smith who can act on it (Vote) or not. Simple as that. Has worked for many years.
So this year Mr. Smith sends a proposal that continues the children's allowance at normal funding levels but includes a provision that requires Mrs. Smith to shave her head and go to work in nothing but a G-string. He knows damn well she is not going to go for the extra provision, but a couple of his buddies dared him to add it in there and he knows he won't get Panthers tickets if he loses this dare. So he hopes to get something out of it to appease his idiot friends.
So he sends his proposal and ... as expected ... Mrs. Smith returns his proposal with full funding for the children's allowance with the shaved head and G-string language removed.
Mr. Smith then refuses to even take this new proposal under consideration. He instead insists on negotiation claiming that nobody likes Mrs. Smith with hair and all those frumpy clothes are bringing down office morale. He tries to convince the children that it is Mrs. Smith's fault that they are not getting their allowance because she won't even negotiate.
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It was a nice try by Mr. Sowell... but I'm afraid will only be shared by those who have nothing left to cling to as the Republican party sinks into the quicksand.