Controlling all three branches, Republicans thought they could roll over the opposition and impose a very Draconian plan of government attrition and loss of healthcare assists the people were enjoying.
In effect, playing chicken with all the power held in their hands. The Republicans have not explained why they believe the people should suffer lower health benefits while billionaires get tax breaks and all the funding comes from squeezing the people on taxes, in effect high taxation of the regular folks, while cutting their safety net with no plan whatsoever, other than to inflict suffering to make opposition more distressed and pliant.
That is a shameful way to govern. A petty tariff program where even Reagan understood the weakness a tariff war imposes on world economic reality. We suffer, all suffer, and the tariff business is changed daily to where businesses cannot do future planing if any part of their supply chain depends upon foreign products as a part of their needs. To produce and generate income they need to put product into commerce, and without an assured future product flow or cash flow, the employees are at far greater risk of loss of jobs and economic depression happening exactly when the Repubican bill would cut health safety.
It is a battle of one party against the other. Yes both suffer. But the suffering of the people will be worse longer if the Democrats give in, and say, "It is okay to harm the people your way, we need to end the shutdown." The Dems, in turn, are correct to hold the line against harming the people.
POLITICO reported Wednesday that the Office of Management and Budget is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a government shutdown, specifically targeting employees who work for programs that are not legally required to continue.
“Historically, it’s the aggressor that always loses,” the senior White House official said. “And quite simply, their constituencies and their priorities are all going to get chewed up, and ours, not so much.”
The official said the second Trump administration is far better equipped to battle Democrats during a shutdown than it was when this happened during his first term.
Many Democrats believe the White House is bluffing about its sweeping layoff plans, and insist Republicans will bear responsibility for a shutdown in the public eye because the GOP controls the government.
Democrats are demanding Republicans negotiate a bipartisan stopgap spending measure. Among their asks is for the GOP to extend certain Affordable Care Act subsidies, which were expanded by Congress in 2021 and are due to sunset at the end of the year.
President Donald Trump on Thursday blamed Democrats for making “unserious and ridiculous” demands, foreshadowing what is likely to be the go-to talking point should neither side blink ahead of the Tuesday night deadline.
“He read all the shit they’re asking for, and he said, ‘on second thought, go fuck yourself,’” the White House official said.
If that strikes you as a seriously flawed way to approach governing a nation where future relialabiliy of the ability for businesses to plan, you are then now understanding why Democrats are so frustrated. The Democrats cannot end the standoff. The Republicans hold all power to end things easily, but will not.
Meanwhile Trump is tearing down a third of the White House itself, for a ballroom. A place to play and party while the entire nation is being run through the ringer. It is irresponsible, and unnecessarily hard upon the people for Trump running his party to harm things to hurt so badly that he reckons the Dems will show up surrender flag in hand, and allow all he'd do. But HE HAS NO REAL PLAN, AND JUGGLES TARIFFS DAILY, TO FIT THE WHIM OF THE DAY. TO FIT THE IMAGINED HARM OR DISRESPECT HE BELIEVES OTHER NATIONS ARE AIMING AT HIM, HIM, THE AGGRESSOR.
We suffer. We wait for some sensible Republicans to break ranks and be reasonable. The wait could be long.