Hey, Republicans. The sky will not fall if there’s a government shutdown. The government was shut down six times during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Over 20 times since 1974. Yet, recent presidents have avoided it like the plague.
The nation survived, Reagan won massive landslides, and, in the end, the public didn’t give a damn despite all the media-Democratic Party hype at the time.
The bureaucrats wound up getting their money. Social Security checks and Medicare payments continued without a hitch. So did veterans’ benefits. The active military was unaffected.
That is, truly essential government services were funded because they are specifically excluded from government shutdowns. Indeed, taxes keep rolling into the government’s treasury. That never shuts down. There is plenty of revenue for basic government operations.
But a shutdown does draw a line on what they call “discretionary spending”—the government itself calls it non-essential spending—much of which, but not all, funds ideologically driven projects. And, yes, it can cause temporary inconveniences for those visiting, let’s say, national parks, etc. Seems like a small sacrifice. In fact, it is a very, very small sacrifice.
Many years ago on my radio show, budget guru and now never-Trumper Paul Ryan told me that the government never really shuts down. Indeed, he said when there is a so-called government shutdown, about 17% of the government actually shuts down.
When you think of it, since the biggest entitlements are unaffected and they make up the overwhelming majority of government spending, it makes sense. And, by the way, no one, and I mean no one, will discuss reforming any of the big entitlement programs. Not even the self-anointed fiscal conservatives.
We are talking about a pittance in relative terms. Nonetheless, the Republicans need to take a stand somewhere. At least it’ll be a beginning. And they should explain to the people that the Democrats (and too many of their fellow Republicans) spend, borrow, and steal like pirates—which will bankrupt the country for their children and grandchildren; further drive up inflation, including the cost of food, clothing, and energy; destroy the value of their paychecks and pension checks; eventually collapse the government altogether—and that this drug-like spending addiction must be broken before it’s too late, which it already may be.
The Republicans shouldn’t act defensively or out of fear but boldly and proudly. They should speak up and speak to the people. In a way, this is like the abortion issue.
What, you ask? The Democrats and their D.C.-based media lied about abortion and exploited it and fearmongered it in the last election in the belief they would ride it to victory. Their propaganda became more extreme and insane the closer to the election. They truly believed they had an issue that would drive them to victory. It was pounded and pounded and pushed and pushed.
But the people didn’t buy it. Even more, there were much bigger issues about which the public cared.
Well, the Democrats and their media lost in a landslide, didn’t they? And it turned out that the tactics were of no consequence. The economy was the No. 1 issue.
Do the right thing, Republicans. It also happens to be good politics. You might actually get used to it. And stop destroying each other. Just get your collective act together and fight. This continuing resolution is just a baby step.
