Comments on: Partisan Wrangling Strangles the Poor https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/02/partisan-wrangling-strangles-the-poor/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 09:51:21 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eri https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/02/partisan-wrangling-strangles-the-poor/#comment-3242 Eri Sun, 03 Jul 2011 04:41:24 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2157#comment-3242 All good points. I blame both parties for this crap. They need to work together and nobody seems willing to do so anymore or to give a damned inch. That's why I'd love to see all of them run out of office. All good points. I blame both parties for this crap. They need to work together and nobody seems willing to do so anymore or to give a damned inch. That’s why I’d love to see all of them run out of office.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/07/02/partisan-wrangling-strangles-the-poor/#comment-3229 TB Sat, 02 Jul 2011 22:04:39 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=2157#comment-3229 Shutdowns are a deliberate political tactic. Basically, "Raise taxes or we'll shoot this dog." <a href="http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/325308/group/News/" rel="nofollow">The governor is seeking about $35.8 billion,</a> with $1.8 billion in new taxes. Republicans think they can get by on $34 billion. Can they? $34 billion was the approximate budget for 2008-2009. Ten years ago? $30 billion (adjusted for inflation). Somehow, back then, everything was getting paid for. How? Did anyone ever stop and wonder where the money comes from for all those "essential" services during a shutdown? Why can they pay some people and do a lot of other things, but somehow the rug has to get pulled out from under the others in five minutes flat? Who picks? Who decides that the first thing to do is shoot the dog and blame the opposition for it? And while I'm wondering, why are the "non-essential" employees somehow "essential" the rest of the time? Shutdowns are a deliberate political tactic.

Basically, “Raise taxes or we’ll shoot this dog.”

The governor is seeking about $35.8 billion, with $1.8 billion in new taxes. Republicans think they can get by on $34 billion.

Can they?

$34 billion was the approximate budget for 2008-2009. Ten years ago? $30 billion (adjusted for inflation). Somehow, back then, everything was getting paid for. How?

Did anyone ever stop and wonder where the money comes from for all those “essential” services during a shutdown? Why can they pay some people and do a lot of other things, but somehow the rug has to get pulled out from under the others in five minutes flat?

Who picks? Who decides that the first thing to do is shoot the dog and blame the opposition for it?

And while I’m wondering, why are the “non-essential” employees somehow “essential” the rest of the time?

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