Would it be better to keep the Government shut if it hurts Republicans politically?

[el_bryanto]

Lets take it as read that Obama and Senate Democrats will probably have to give up some fig leaf to get the Republicans to allow a clean resolution and to allow the debt ceiling to be raised.

I've been going over a list of problems caused by Republicans and particularly Tea party Republicans in my head. Let's be blunt - it's embarrassing that we as a nation can't pass a balanced budget - and the reason we can't is that Republicans will not allow any increase in taxes/revenues. We aren't taking care of what needs to be taken care of financially in honoring our commitments to our citizens while maintaining fiscal solvency for our children and grand children.

The terrible but temporary pain inflicted now might be worth it to expose republicans.

On the other hand - when it comes to military adventurism and the surveillance state, Obama and most mainstream democrats aren't much better than Republicans (if at all). And real people are hurting from the Government Shut down.

What do you think?

Bryant

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[Qutzupalotl]

1. No.

For us to prolong the government closure would be as bad as them shutting the government. There is real pain for real people, which does not outweigh any political advantage — for either side.

[el_bryanto]

3. Well yes - but it's a scale isn't it?

We could end the shut down right now by agreeing to defund the Affordable Car Act - I think that very few of us would consider that (I certainly wouldn't). The question is what concessions would we make to end the shut down?

Bryant

[Qutzupalotl]

4. No, and that's a different question. Boehner could end the shutdown today.

He has the votes. It's not more concessions from our side that are needed — we've already gone to their number. Boehner needs to end this strategy of trying to reshape the country in Ayn Rand's image by extracting more concessions by threat.

[cherokeeprogressive]

2. Public pain for political gain?

That doesn't sound like a good idea to me.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. We keep reacting to short term problems

The long term problem is republicans. Whatever fixes that problem, as permanently as possible, as soon as possible is the best solution.

I think a shutdown that damages republicans so much they don't have the spirit to make the country default via debt ceiling bullshittery is perhaps worth it.

Real people are hurting from a legacy of 30 years of republicans. We can't seem to fix the core problem.

[Bradical79]

6. Shuting down government is the Republican's decision

The votes to pass a clean bill exist, but the Republican leadership in the house won't allow such a measure to go up for vote. So the real choices for Democrats is to either concede to the Republican demands, and be complicit in hurting millions, or let the Republicans keep digging their bole.

[geek tragedy]

7. The choice to keep the government closed is theirs, not ours, to make nt

[LittleBlue]

8. Yes

I'll go with an unpopular opinion here.

This is what happens when they gain a foothold in congress. For the average person, it will be better in the long run if Democrats hold power. You can see the effects of Republicans just holding the House, imagine if they held the White House or the Senate.

People will be hurt in the short-term, but we aren't the ones hurting them. The Republicans are hurting them by denying them government services, which they will only give back if we take away health insurance for people who can't afford health care. They are trying to inflict suffering on society one way or another, and that is unacceptable. If that continues to be the basis for their party, it must be eliminated or at least minimized. Saying "fuck you" to 99% of the population should come with a political hit.

[cynatnite]

9. It's not worth it if it hurts everyone else. n/t