[psyang]

Originally Posted by 19Yzerman19

The problem, Fusebox, with how you've presented this is that you've skirted a key point: the budget has nothing to do with Obamacare. Passing a budget is a fundamental responsibility of Congress. Obamacare has been passed, is being funded and has gone into effect, and the non-passing of a budget and consequent government shutdown does not affect it.

What the Republicans in Congress are doing is using the budget to hold the country hostage, their demand being that Obamacare effectively be undone after the fact. After it's already been put in place. It's the law. Congress is effectively saying, "undo this law, or we're not passing a budget". It's no different in principle than if they'd said "either you agree to change the speed limit on this expressway or we won't fund anything". It applies to every law, and it's basically legislative terrorism - forgive the sensationalist comparison, but the tactics really are analogous.

The other point is that it's really not all republicans, it's a group led by a Mr. Cruz of Texas. The Republican leadership basically thinks this is a potential disaster, and also pointless because it doesn't affect Obamacare and they don't believe the President will give in in any circumstance. I doubt he will, because all it will lead to is them doing this again with the debt ceiling, and then again with the next budget cycle, extracting further demands.

Great post. This really hits the heart of the matter. Obamacare is a law. Withholding funding because you disagree with a law really is like legislative terrorism.