Shutdown

[quincunx]

Pretty ignorant understanding that minimum wage full time is below the poverty threshold. It’s not about working. It’s about working and not getting paid a living wage. The idea that able-bodied people are just sitting around live high and might on $350 per month—- WTF???!

[PozBearWI]

20 hours ago, tobetrained said:

Political statements are fine. But please do your research too.

[think before following links] [think before following links] https://bipartisanpolicy.org/issue-brief/enhanced-premium-tax-credits-who-benefits-how-much-and-what-happens-next/

Here's an excerpt "...Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which temporarily expanded the populations eligible for these tax credits and the amount of financial assistance provided for two years. Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), Congress extended these so-called enhanced PTCs (also known as enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits, or eAPTCs) through December 31, 2025. Congress now faces a set of difficult choices with significant implications for the federal deficit, the number of insured Americans, and the financial burden insurance imposes on consumers."

Democrats, under Biden, had years to hold public debate and FUND this program -- Biden and Democrats failed to do this. It has been unfunded and paid for by incremental debt. That was acceptable as a short-term response to a crisis. The program was designed to limit/minimize damage from short-term price spikes due to (potentially) great medical care demands from a pandemic. No direct crisis-response program should continue forever, especially when unfunded.

Instead, Democrats have used it -- and people's health -- as a political football to pressure extensions WITHOUT funding, hoping to win elections. They then doubled-down by shutting the government down, hurting even more people in the process.

The old adage applies, we can't fix stupid...

[tobetrained]

HA! very informative @PozBearWI.

I'm saying nothing Lee Saunders -- the head of AFSCME -- said on October 1. But, ultimately, we can't... to your point.

[think before following links] https://www.afscme.org/press/releases/2025/afscmes-saunders-shutting-down-the-government-wont-hide-the-health-care-crisis-that-anti-worker-extremists-started

And now both the Federal Workers Union and Air Traffic Controllers Union have demanded as well.

But, I'm sure they're all stupid in your book too...?

[PozBearWI]

You'll take whatever position you wish @tobetrained.   Honestly I don't care.  I have no expectation that others agree with me.  

My position, the shut down was caused by Republicans.  They have all the power.  If Republicans wanted to end it, they could.  The Dem position is well stated, I don't need to beat it to death.  They won't agree until R's actually negotiate, which the R's refuse to do.  Dems are in DC.  Repub's are on vacation.  

There are a ton of other things to improve how our democracy progresses, but that won't ever happen with Nazi rule or one party take the position that they own every correct thought and action.  (which is MAGA right now)