Government shutdown begins as neither side agree to a spending compromise

[Sir Codin]

Whelp, it's happened. Let the moaning commence and most of it with good reason.

 

[Sir Codin]

I'm saving my obligation to get angry for when my boss calls me in the morning and tells me I'm being furloughed.

 

[Ephemeral Euphoria]

For now all I have to say is this since I am exhausted atm. Are you ****ing kidding me?

 

[Sir Codin]

Here's a short list of things that are or might get shut down. And by "short" I mean "I'm a liar":

Access Board
Administration for Children and Families
Administration for Native Americans
Administration on Aging
Administration on Developmental Disabilities
Administrative Committee of the Federal Register
Administrative Conference of the United States
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
African Development Foundation
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Agency for International Development
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Agricultural Marketing Service
Agricultural Research Service
Agriculture Department
Air and Radiation Hotline Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau
American Battle Monuments Commission
AmeriCorps Recruiting
AMTRAK
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Antitrust Division
Appalachian Regional Commission
Architect of the Capitol
Archives
Arctic Research Commission
Arms Control and International Security
Army Corps of Engineers
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Interagency Coordinating Committee
Atlantic Fleet Forces Command

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation
Bonneville Power Administration
Botanic Garden
Broadcasting Board of Governors
Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Industry and Security
Bureau of International Labor Affairs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Prisons
Bureau of Reclamation
Bureau of the Census
Bureau of the Public Debt
Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Capitol Visitor Center
Census Bureau
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
Chief Acquisition Officers Council
Chief Financial Officers Council
Chief Human Capital Officers Council
Chief Information Officers Council
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Civilian Radioactive Waste Management
Commerce Department
Commission on Civil Rights
Commission on Fine Arts
Commission on International Religious Freedom
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled
Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States
Community Oriented Policing Services
Community Planning and Development
Compliance, Office of
Computer Emergency Readiness Team
Congressional Budget Office
Congressional Research Service
Constitution Center
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Corporation for National and Community Service
Corps of Engineers
Council of Economic Advisers
Council on Environmental Quality
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia

Defense Acquisition University
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Defense Commissary Agency
Defense Contract Audit Agency
Defense Contract Management Agency
Defense Field Activities
Defense Finance and Accounting Services
Defense Information Systems Agency
Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Legal Services Agency
Defense Logistics Agency
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Defense Security Service
Defense Technical Information Center
Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Delaware River Basin Commission
Denali Commission
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Defense Inspector General
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of the Interior
Department of Transportation
Domestic Policy Council
Drug Enforcement Administration

Economic Adjustment Office
Economic Analysis, Bureau of
Economic Development Administration
Economic Research Service
Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs
Economics and Statistics Administration
Education Department
Election Assistance Commission
Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of
Employee Benefits Security Administration
Employment and Training Administration
Endangered Species Committee
Energy Department
Energy Information Administration
English Language Acquisition Office
Environmental Management
Environmental Protection Agency
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
European Command
Executive Office for Immigration Review
Export-Import Bank of the United States

Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
Farm Credit Administration
Farm Service Agency
Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board
Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Consulting Group
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Executive Boards
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
Federal Financing Bank
Federal Geographic Data Committee
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
Federal Housing Finance Agency
Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds
Federal Interagency Committee on Education
Federal Interagency Council on Statistical Policy
Federal Judicial Center
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer
Federal Library and Information Center Committee
Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae)
Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Reserve System
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Federal Student Aid Information Center
Federal Trade Commission
Federal Transit Administration
Financial Management Service
Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, National Commission
Fish and Wildlife Service
Food and Drug Administration
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Foreign Agricultural Service
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
Forest Service
Fossil Energy
Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board

General Services Administration
Geological Survey
Global Affairs
Government Accountability Office
Government Ethics, Office of
Government National Mortgage Association
Government Printing Office
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration

Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Health and Human Services Department
Health Resources and Services Administration
Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Office
Helsinki Commission
Holocaust Memorial Museum
Homeland Security Department
House Leadership Offices
House of Representatives
House of Representatives Committees
House Office of Inspector General
House Office of the Clerk
House Organizations, Commissions, and Task Forces
Housing Office

Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Commission
Indian Affairs, Bureau of
Indian Arts and Crafts Board
Indian Health Service
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industry and Security, Bureau of
Information Resource Management College
Information Resources Center
Innovation and Improvement Office
Inspectors General
Institute of Education Sciences
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Institute of Peace
Inter-American Foundation
Interagency Alternative Dispute Resolution Working Group
Interagency Council on Homelessness
Interior Department
Internal Revenue Service
International Labor Affairs, Bureau of
International Trade Administration
International Trade Commission
Interpol

James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation
Japan-United States Friendship Commission
Job Corps
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Joint Board for the Enrollment of Actuaries
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Joint Fire Science Program
Joint Forces Command
Joint Forces Staff College
Joint Military Intelligence College
Judicial Circuit Courts of Appeal
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
Justice Department
Justice Programs, Office of
Justice Statistics, Bureau of
Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of

Labor Department
Labor Statistics, Bureau of
Land Management, Bureau of
Legal Services Corporation
Library of Congress

Marine Mammal Commission
Maritime Administration
Marketing and Regulatory Programs
Mediation and Concitiation Service, Office of
Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Merit Systems Protection Board
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission
Military Postal Service Agency
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Minority Business Development Agency
Mississippi River Commission
Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
Multifamily Housing Office

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Agricultural Statistics Service
National AIDS Policy Office
National Archives and Records Administration
National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare
National Capital Planning Commission
National Cemetery Administration
National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
National Constitution Center
National Council on Disability
National Counterintelligence Executive, Office of
National Credit Union Administration
National Defense University
National Drug Intelligence Center
National Economic Council
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Gallery of Art
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Indian Gaming Commission
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
National Institute of Justice
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institutes of Health
National Interagency Fire Center
National Labor Relations Board
National Marine Fisheries Service
National Mediation Board
National Nuclear Security Administration
National Ocean Service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Park Foundation
National Park Service
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
National Reconnaissance Office
National Science Foundation
National Security Agency
National Security Council
National Technical Information Service
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
National Transportation Safety Board
National Weather Service
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Northwest Power Planning Council
Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission
Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education
Office of Compliance
Office of Disability Employment Policy
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Office of Government Ethics
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Office of Management and Budget
Office of Mediation and Concitiation Service
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office of Personnel Management
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Office of Science and Technology Policy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
Office of Special Counsel
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Office of the Pardon Attorney See Pardon Attorney, Office of
Office of Thrift Supervision
Open World Leadership Center
Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Pacific Command
Pardon Attorney, Office of See Office of the Pardon Attorney
Parole Commission
Peace Corps
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Pentagon Force Protection Agency
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Policy Development and Research
Political Affairs
Postal Regulatory Commission
Postal Service
Power Administrations
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Presidio Trust
Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office
Public and Indian Housing
Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs

Radio and TV Marti
Radio Free Asia
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
Railroad Retirement Board
Reclamation, Bureau of
Refugee Resettlement, Office of
Regulatory Information Service Center
Rehabilitation Services Administration
Research and Innovative Technology Administration
Research, Education and Economics
Risk Management Agency
Rural Business and Cooperative Programs
Rural Development
Rural Housing Service
Rural Utilities Service

Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation
Science and Technology Policy, Office of
Science Office
Scientific and Technical Information, Office of
Secret Service
Securities and Exchange Commission
Selective Service System
Senate
Senate Committees
Senate Leadership
Small Business Administration
Smithsonian Institution
Social Security Administration
Social Security Advisory Board
Southeastern Power Administration
Southern Command
Southwestern Power Administration
Special Forces Operations Command
State Department
State Justice Institute
Stennis Center for Public Service
Strategic Command
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement
Surface Transportation Board
Susquehanna River Basin Commission

Tax Court
Taxpayer Advocacy Panel
Tennessee Valley Authority
Trade and Development Agency
Transportation Command
Transportation Department
Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Statistics, Bureau of
TRICARE Management
Trustee Program

U.S. AbilityOne Commission
U.S. Access Board
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission
U.S. Election Assistance Commission
U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. International Trade Commission
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
U.S. National Central Bureau - Interpol
U.S. Postal Service
U.S. Sentencing Commission
U.S. Trade and Development Agency
U.S. Trade Representative
Unified Combatant Commands
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Veterans Benefits Administration
Veterans Day National Committee
Veterans' Employment and Training Service
Vietnam Educational Foundation
Voice of America

Washington Headquarters Services
Weather Service
Western Area Power Administration
White House
White House Commission on Presidential Scholars
White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance
White House Office of Administration
Women's Bureau
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

 

[Mr. X]

Would have been easier to list the parts that weren't getting shutdown.

 

[Kanzler]

lel. Well, at least holidays for government employees ^^ I'd probably get to that project that's been collecting dust for the past year if I was one of them. Actually do something fun while GDP growth crumbles, yunno?

 

[Fading Tree]

Late Night TV host said it best
Jimmy Kimmel:
"Midnight tonight is the deadline for Congress to pass their budget for the year. And if they don't, things shut down -- which is bad because we need to keep the government working so they can continue to not do things on our behalf.

^They minus well be my words. He merely said what I was thinking. Stragly enough people agree with Affordable Care Act when it isn't called Obamacare.

Well looks like I'm not going to Mars with the shutdown of Nasa.

 

[Esper]

I have a few friends whose jobs revolve around national parks. You know, tourism type stuff. I wonder how badly this is going to hurt them. You hear that, Boehner? Your lack of control of your party is hurting Americans. Get your **** together, man. Grow a backbone and be a leader. Tell your people to stop playing around.

I heard on the news this morning that the American public is likely to blame House Republicans for this mess, and Obama to a slightly lesser degree. I really don't understand how people can see this as Obama's fault. Yeah, he's said he won't put the Affordable Care Act up for discussion, but there shouldn't even be a discussion! The House is holding the running of the government hostage and they think it gives them the right to negotiate. That's crazy. That's irresponsible. Unfortunately it's also likely to get some of them reelected because they come from really red corners of the country.

 

[Silais]

It really is the Republicans' fault; they're disdain for equal human rights sickens me. My family is Republican and I can barely stand to listen to them harp on about how it's Obama's fault that the government shutdown was initiated. It's so frustrating. The Republicans were the ones threatening to shut down the government to further their own personal agenda. None of the Republicans in the House will be experiencing the same suffering and struggles as millions of government workers; they'll still be receiving paychecks. They have no regard for other human beings and would willingly harm the economy to make sure their personal profit is maintained.

 

[Livewire]

Blaming Obama for this is like John Wilkes Booth blaming Abraham Lincoln for not seeing the end of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater.

Basically the GOP made a suicide pact to try and take Obama down with them. Newsflash, John, Obamacare is still in effect, is still law, you blithering spineless idiot.

Sign Ups and whatnot start today, so if you need/want coverage, go go go. You've got until March.

 

[Esper]

I'm trying to put myself in the position of someone who wants to blame Obama. Is it because I just hate him and think everything he does it bad? Is it because I feel that the ACA is so horrible it's worth stopping the government? Is it because I feel that a government shutdown isn't a bad thing anyway so there's no loss? Is it because I believe that anything is open for debate? Do I cynically believe that it's a bad move but that the blame can be shifted elsewhere?

I just can't figure out what motivates people of this mindset.

 

[Keiran]

No matter where blame may be placed these events are a testament to how our current government can no longer ensure our nations stability.

 

[Rezilia]

He merely said what I was thinking. Stragly enough people agree with Affordable Care Act when it isn't called Obamacare.

Well looks like I'm not going to Mars with the shutdown of Nasa.

#Iknowright

Since when has NASA been concerned with populating another planet? We have tons of third companies trying for space exploration instead, since NASA's space program was truthfully shut down by who? Oh, that's right! Obama!

--

So many people have forgotten the Right of Revolution we have as Americans. Basically, if we want, we can storm up to the government, demand it change COMPLETELY, and thus it will be done. Period. This was decided during the creation of the Bill of Rights. Problem is, the last time we did it - the Veteran March on the Capital, our people got shot down by those in control of the government, all like, "Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. We're in control."

And yet the government has had to shut down how many times in recent years?

Obama IS the problem this time around but we can't fully blame him since we depended too much on the "common sense" of the people, who then voted for him again despite the fact that he has shown to be incompetent both economically and militarily, instead of voting for Romney who had ACTUAL EXPERIENCE in getting organizations (in this case, the nation) out of debt and back on a solid path.

The Republicans only risked a shut down because they believed the entire nation - not just the fed employees - would suffer if ANY version of Obamacare remained. And they're right. All Obamacare has done is destroy the ability for other forms of welfare to work, caused everyone with Obamacare to pay MORE than they did with the services they used to have, and made political entities reconfigure how their economies worked at every level - causing no one to have a job, regardless of achievement or experience.

The Republicans may not be advocates of human rights but they DO understand the fabric of government and economy. They're not doing this because they're stubborn, which Obama and all those Democrats up top want you to believe, they're doing it to keep the majority of America from failing, even at the expense of fed workers. They are concerned with the future.

No, I'm not Republican. And I probably would be Democrat if not for the fact that both parties are now right-wing. I'm left-wing. Being separate from the two parties, I guarantee you that the Republicans are trying to protect us, not the other way around.

 

[Silais]

I'm trying to put myself in the position of someone who wants to blame Obama. Is it because I just hate him and think everything he does it bad? Is it because I feel that the ACA is so horrible it's worth stopping the government? Is it because I feel that a government shutdown isn't a bad thing anyway so there's no loss? Is it because I believe that anything is open for debate? Do I cynically believe that it's a bad move but that the blame can be shifted elsewhere?

I just can't figure out what motivates people of this mindset.

They blame Obama because Obama is actually attempting to change how America treats its citizens and how the government is run. They blame Obama because he is trying to breach the gap between the two political parties for the better of American society. Sure, Obama is a bit spineless when it comes to compromise; he's more willing to please the Republicans than he should be, and I'm furious over the NSA and the mistrust that Obama has accrued for his part in the secrecy of the agency, but he's at least attempting to be progressive, something that half of the U.S. Congress seems to have a complete aversion to. Any attempt at changing the status quo threatens Republicans because it shifts wealth from the top 1% to the remainder of the population, which, in their eyes, is a waste and a great injustice. The mere fact that the top 1% made around 92% of the economic recovery while only 8% went to hardworking American taxpayers should be an indication of the injustice of our society today.

These wealthy Republican Senators and Representatives are so disjointed from the general, majority population that they have no understanding of how this government shutdown will affect millions of families. They are so wealthy and privileged that they have no way to understand the plight of the working class. They're cynical and disgusted by the poor, believing them to be lazy and worthless leeches that try to suck money from their "righteous and bloated" bank accounts. They look at the common citizen and seem to see nothing but a steer in a massive herd of cattle waiting to be slaughtered.

This fear of the Affordable Care Act comes from a reluctance to allow the right of all American citizens to be healthy and receive medical treatment that could save their lives. It comes from a hatred of equality when the "free market" dictates that there will be rich and poor in an economy; these Republicans being the rich and the vast majority of us being the poor. It comes from a greed that prevents them from making any concession that may drain some of their private funds. It comes from a lack of human understanding. It comes, in truth, from a lot of things.

 

[Eevee3]

This reminds me of the teachers not getting their way so they go on strike and behave like children. "I'll show them!"

Grow up, will ya?

 

[Rezilia]

They blame Obama because Obama is actually attempting to change how America treats its citizens and how the government is run. They blame Obama because he is trying to breach the gap between the two political parties for the better of American society.

These wealthy Republican Senators and Representatives are so disjointed from the general, majority population that they have no understanding of how this government shutdown will affect millions of families.

You are so, so wrong and you don't even know it...

I watched all of the debates between Obama and Romney. Every time I was getting ready for the debate, I knew exactly what Obama would say. It's the same thing he's said every time in response to everything that goes wrong, regardless of whatever that may be: "The Republicans are stopping us."

That's complete BS. The Democrats are the ones blaming the Republicans for everything. The Republicans have been working their butts off trying to take away Obama's plan because IT HAS ONLY FAILED. Obama just wants to have his name in the books for something, even if it means causing the nation to fail.

You cannot say that Obama is "bridging the gap" between the parties when he blames the other party for everything. You cannot say Obama is doing this "for the good of millions" when his plans have only done bad for millions. We are NOT better off than when the economy was first fully seen as taking a dive. We are WORSE. The Republicans know that Obama's plans will only make things go more and more sour and THAT is why they aren't yielding.

 

[Kanzler]

So many people have forgotten the Right of Revolution we have as Americans. Basically, if we want, we can storm up to the government, demand it change COMPLETELY, and thus it will be done. Period. This was decided during the creation of the Bill of Rights. Problem is, the last time we did it - the Veteran March on the Capital, our people got shot down by those in control of the government, all like, "Nuh-uh. Not going to happen. We're in control."

You don't need the right to revolt >> you do it because you don't recognize the government as legitimate. Why would you take seriously a "right" from what in your mind is an illegitimate government? Did the Chinese communists consult the Republics right to rebel? What about the Communists against Tzarist Russia? What about the rebels in Libya and Syria? Praise our Right to Revolt? I think it's a ridiculous construct believed by a certain amount of people that is overly patriotic for no good reason. Storming up and changing the government by force is treason. And it is not a right granted by government, not any government.

For reference's sake, here is the Bill of Rights, the first 10 of Constitutional Amendments:

1. Protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of the press, as well as the right to assemble, right to protest, and petition the government

2. Protects the right to bear arms

3. Prohibits the forced quartering of soldiers during peacetime

4. Prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause as determined by a neutral judge or magistrate

5. Sets out rules for indictment by grand jury and eminent domain, protects the right to due process, and prohibits self-incrimination and double jeopardy

6. Protects the right to a fair and speedy public trial by jury, including the rights to be notified of the accusations, to confront the accuser, to obtain witnesses and to retain counsel

7. Provides for the right to trial by jury in certain civil cases, according to common law

8. Prohibits excessive fines and excessive bail, as well as cruel and unusual punishment

9. Protects rights not enumerated in the constitution

10. Limits the powers of the federal government to those delegated to it by the Constitution

That's it. Not this nation-myth that Americans enjoy telling themselves.

The Republicans only risked a shut down because they believed the entire nation - not just the fed employees - would suffer if ANY version of Obamacare remained. And they're right. All Obamacare has done is destroy the ability for other forms of welfare to work, caused everyone with Obamacare to pay MORE than they did with the services they used to have, and made political entities reconfigure how their economies worked at every level - causing no one to have a job, regardless of achievement or experience.

Anyways, Obamacare is lowering your health expenditures, I dunno, because you now have coverage for those ridiculously expensive meds that cost $10 a pill? I don't see how that's making people pay more...

 

[Silais]

You are so, so wrong and you don't even know it...

I watched all of the debates between Obama and Romney. Every time I was getting ready for the debate, I knew exactly what Obama would say. It's the same thing he's said every time in response to everything that goes wrong, regardless of whatever that may be: "The Republicans are stopping us."

That's complete BS. The Democrats are the ones blaming the Republicans for everything. The Republicans have been working their butts off trying to take away Obama's plan because IT HAS ONLY FAILED. Obama just wants to have his name in the books for something, even if it means causing the nation to fail.

You cannot say that Obama is "bridging the gap" between the parties when he blames the other party for everything. You cannot say Obama is doing this "for the good of millions" when his plans have only done bad for millions. We are NOT better off than when the economy was first fully seen as taking a dive. We are WORSE. The Republicans know that Obama's plans will only make things go more and more sour and THAT is why they aren't yielding.

Republicans said the exact same thing about Medicare and Social Security. Ronald Reagan said himself that it would "enslave the American people" and destroy our economy. I've listened to these soundbites myself.

Here's the full quote of Ronald Reagan on Medicare from the soundbites had listened to:

"This threat is with us and at the moment is more imminent. One of the traditional methods of imposing stateism and socialism on a people has been by way of medicine. It is very easy to disguise a medical program as a humanitarian project. Most people are a little reluctant to oppose anything that suggests medical care for people who possibly can't afford it. So with the American people on record as not wanting socialized medicine, Congressman Farrand introduced the Farrand bill. This was the idea that all people of Social Security age should be brought under a program of compulsory health insurance. Now, Congressman Farrand brought the program out on that idea just for that particular group of people. But Congressman Farrand was subscribing to this foot in the door philosophy, because he said if we can only break through and get our foot inside the door, we can expand the program after that. Now for what reason the other people have for backing a bill that says we insist on compulsory health insurance for senior citizens on the basis of age alone, regardless of whether they are worth millions of dollars, have an income, whether they're protected by their own insurance, whether they have savings. I think we can be excused for believing that as ex-Congressman Farrand said, this was simply an excuse to bring about what they had wanted all the time, socialized medicine.

Years later, we applaud Medicare and Social Security and cannot imagine our society without these social programs. Why should the Affordable Healthcare Act be any different? It's socialized medicine, after all. Oh, the horror!

Just to add some supplementary information, here's a quote from the Washington Post I saved from an article about Medicare cuts:

You know what's not popular? Reforming Medicare such that beneficiaries "receive a check or voucher from the government each year for a fixed amount they can use to shop for their own private health insurance policy." According to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, 65 percent of Americans oppose the idea -- about the same number who dismissed it in 1995. And if they're told that the cost of private insurance for seniors is projected to outpace the cost of Medicare insurance for seniors -- which is exactly what CBO projects -- more than 80 percent of Americans oppose the plan.

But it's not just sweepingly ideological reforms that are unpopular. Cutting Medicare polls poorly even if you leave out the details. Almost 80 percent of Americans oppose Medicare cuts in the abstract, while 70 percent oppose Medicaid cuts. Slightly over half of the country wants the Defense Department left alone. The only deficit-reduction option that is popular? Raising taxes on the rich. That gets the go-ahead from 72 percent of us -- though, as any budget wonk will tell you, it can't solve anything beyond a small fraction of our fiscal problem.

In general, the poll shows overwhelming opposition to the main Republican approaches for reducing the deficit -- even when they're posed vaguely. Almost 60 percent of Americans, for instance, want a mix of tax increases and spending cuts in the final deal, while only 36 percent think spending cuts should be deployed on their lonesome. The silver lining for Republicans is that though their policies run far behind the Democratic alternatives, they run slightly ahead: 46 percent of Americans trust them on the debt, versus 42 percent who trust Obama.

As I have said before, Republicans are unyielding because it affects their personal profits and goes against the "democracy", the "free market" and that "socialism" will be the downfall of our country, when in reality there are many socialist programs in place that maintain our people and our country. American working-class citizens are a sick, poor and disenfranchised people who need medical attention and care but cannot afford it. As I had said in a previous post, 92% of the current economic recovery has gone to the top 1%, only 8% going to the other 300+ million of us. Do you really think Republicans care about the state of the country? No. They care about their pocketbooks.

 

[Mr. X]

I'm waiting for when we fail to raise the debt ceiling. Oh boy oh boy oh boy, that will be fun.

 

[Corvus of the Black Night]

Isn't America such a beautiful place!

that was intended to be sarcasm

Seriously, the more and more I read about this, the more and more I want to move out of the country. Sucks being a pennyless 20 year old, but I can't really blame anyone else for that than the great American system for saying it's cool for textbooks to charge $200 each, or work for money that can't sustain myself, or anything for that matter.

seriously **** this place