
It's time to get real, folks, both in terms of what we are talking about by a government shutdown and who is responsible for the shutdown if it occurs. Both points are scare tactics and in the case of responsibility, Schumer's words are a total distortion of the truth. Let's break it down to eliminate both the hype and the falsehood.
With regard to the shutdown, in reality it is a mere partial closure and most people won't even notice it. Only about seventeen percent of government operations are shut down and they are not critical in the short term. Most are of the nice to have variety. Taxes that are due are still paid so money continues to come in, and the critically essential components continue to operate. The military stays operational, so does the VA and border services and even those who are temporarily furloughed have traditionally been reimbursed once the problem is solved. Despite what the media tell you, we've had lots of shutdowns and except for the hyped up sad stories all returns to normal quickly. But, of course, the media, always tries to make a crisis out of anything by playing it beyond reason, and manufactures what they call hardship as in the case of the family that came all the way to Washington to see the sights and was disappointed by the shutdown. That, my friends, is not a hardship, it is an inconvenience. Social security checks are still issued, welfare doesn't dry up and life goes on.
And then there's the case of who is at fault, with the Democrats always saying the Republicans are responsible. Well, the truth is, there is a bill on the table that will keep things going and the big sticking point is a small inclusion, less than two billion dollars, to start the additions to the border wall. It is there because it is one of the key points that the American people want by a large majority and was a key factor in the President's election results. But it is the Democrats, led by Schumer, saying that if Trump doesn't take it out the government will be shut down. It's not being done by Mr. Trump, it's being done by Mr. Schumer and his band of miscreants who have no interest in keeping our borders safe, only in gaining more future Democratic voters.
This type of problem could be eliminated every year if only Congress would do its job. Instead of having been on another extensive vacation recently, they should have been hard at work ironing things out and getting it done before it got to another impasse when the money runs out without Congressional action. I blame that on the leadership of both parties, the majority and minority, since they have little interest in doing what needs to be done and only fully engage when it's in their personal interest. The President shouldn't compromise with those who would sabotage his agenda. Instead, he should take both Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell to the woodshed and go straight to the people with the truth. That's what Reagan would have done and he was successful with it. You can't practice the art of the deal with those who won't negotiate.
So what should Donald Trump do? Well, instead of negotiating away one of his key points, he should merely tell them that if there is no funding for the wall it is up to them and then hold them accountable. And despite all the hooey that Republicans will be blamed which is constantly hyped by the likes of squishes like Ryan and McConnell, the most successful Republican President in modern history was Ronald Reagan who let a shutdown take place on numerous occasions. As a result, he won reelection by a landslide.
Even the last shutdown, led by a courageous Ted Cruz of Texas, was ultimately a success. Despite the pundits and the pathetic leadership saying it would cost the Republicans dearly, they won the off term elections with solid gains. They will this time as well, if only the President will listen to the people who brought him here instead of some of his New York-bred advisors and the pundits who don't have a clue what's going on out here in the real America.
Let Chuck Schumer shut it down, Mr. President, the Democrats will own it, and you can say that after one hundred days you've finally turned the tide for the people, not for the political class that just see the people as an obstacle to their undesirable plans. Be the Donald you were elected to be, the Establishment will either get over it or finally go silent. Steve Bannon is right.