Biggest Losers of the Government Shutdown

The shutdown is over and the world is once again safe for large, unrestrained government. President Obama by refusing to negotiate, refusing to listen to any ideas other than his own, and with the backing of the main stream media was able to move this country another step closer to Socialism. All in all, a great week for the big government types.

If one follows the main stream media in both press and live media, you would be left with the impression the Republican Party is the big loser in the shutdown debacle. There are some losers who are much more important than the Republican Party.

The biggest losers were the American people. The reopening of the government did not result in new jobs. The labor participation rate remains at the lowest rate in over 35 years. LABOR PARTICIPATION RATE is that number of people, over age 16, who are actually able to work and are taking part in either working or looking for work. Some have suggested, it is the baby boomers retiring causing this high number. Upon closer inspection, you will see the seniors are working and not retiring, while the unemployed/underemployed/drop out groups are the younger, and thanks to our education system, less skilled people. Long term unemployment has a number of troubling results, but the one worrying me the most is loss of initiative, and a degrading of a work ethic. With the safety net in this country, there are no repercussions for those choosing to relax and let others work.

The second “biggest loser” is the main stream media. Right now there is no backlash, but these things have a way of festering as people digest what happened. At some point, playing clips of Senate Leader Reid and President Obama refusing to even talk about compromise, while in the same broadcast harping on Republican intransigence, will start to sink into the conscious of even the most partisan of our citizens. Newspapers are going bankrupt and the evening news shows are losing market share. People looking for unbiased news are going to the internet and to places like The Patch to get their news. This is unfortunate since an unbiased national news media has always been a core strength of the United States.

Another loser is our children. We adults have demonstrated, it is not necessary to compromise with an adversary. We model taking a stand, closing out information you don’t want to hear, and attacking ideas that are not your own. We adults continue to argue hard work is not necessary, the government will step in if you don’t prepare for your future, and you cannot hold a job. The family is no longer the answer, the answer is government “crib to grave” entitlement programs.

The latest fund raising numbers are out and show a gain for the Republican Party. I suppose this points to some sort of change in the future; however, I wonder if it makes much difference who is in power. A Washington, D.C. continuing to be the home of life long career politicians, who are more interested in their well being than that of the country, may be a greater danger than a specific party in power.

I agree a third party is a bad idea. Yet, the idea keeps crossing my mind, about what would happen, if there were a party where people promised to enter government for no more than 10 years, and then promised to return to their careers, in their home states, and leave Washington in the rear view mirror. I wonder if Americans would respond to the banker, the insurance agent, the franchise owner and the delivery driver who took time from their careers to serve their country, and then returned home to live under the laws they helped pass. Just a thought. It is a thought both Parties should seriously think about.

DE Tocqueville said America was special because it offered “equality of conditions.” Given the number of exemptions from Obamacare, given the low labor participation rate and given the decreasing number of people actually paying taxes, does anybody actually believe we have equality of conditions?

There were a number of losers from the government shutdown, but Washington D.C. was a winner.