SAR #13274

Some issues only have one side.

Emperor, Clothed: A single-payer system, much like Medicare, is the cure for America's failed healthcare system. Let's just do it and get on with addressing some of our more difficult problems.

The Real Issue: The whole government-shutdown-Obamacare-must-go campaign is based on the GOP's desire to make sure no woman, anywhere, of any age, ever, ever gets a birth control script paid for by the government because it would be an affront to God and their male egos. They also want a rider attached to permanently strike the word 'abortion' from the English language.

Points Of View: The government says BP loosed 4.2 million barrels into the Gulf. BP says it was only 2.45 million barrels. With the fine being $4,300 a barrel, the difference is $7.5 billion. BP says there was no way to prepare for such a unique blowout a mile below the sea floor. The government says they lie.

Echo: The government shutdown leads to taxation without representation. Or at least without services.

Reflection: “This kind of obstructionism has been seen before. After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, in 1954, Virginia shut down schools in Charlottesville, Norfolk, and Warren County rather than accept black children in white schools. When the courts forced the schools to open, the governor followed a number of other Southern states in instituting hurdles such as 'pupil placement' reviews, 'freedom of choice' plans that provided nothing of the sort, and incessant legal delays. While in some states meaningful progress occurred rapidly, in others it took many years. We face a similar situation with health-care reform"

Rugged Individualism: When the Affordable Care Act takes effect, October 1, a new obligation of citizenship will have been recognized by law, the responsibility to take care of oneself. Strange to see the GOP arguing against personal responsibility. 
 
A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far Away: Under George W. the debt limit was raised five times yet the government was never shut down. 
 
Like! NSA has a social website, GETPRISM, and signed everybody up for it. 
 
Lying Eyes: House Republicans continue to chant “We Are Not Shutting Down the Government” while they go about shutting down the government. And the media report it with straight faces and should shoulder some of the blame for our dysfunctional system.

Ain't Gonna Practice War No Less, Either: US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the US wants to keep 10,000 troops in Afghanistan despite an agreement that calls for them all to leave. It's just a matter of finding out how much money Karzai Incorporated wants.

Starts and Stops: The start of open enrollment in Obamacare and the Republican shutdown of the government coincide; curious how one vision of government works and the other doesn't.

The Parting Shot: