# Run For the Hills! (Government Shutdown in Effect) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068 "2013-10-01T04:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 29
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/561 "2013-10-04T17:38:05Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I do realize that. As I said, I’d prefer the government to be reduced gradually. But even the way it is done now it is good to make people realize that the government’s teat is not bottomless and that government jobs should not be inherently more secure than private sector. While I have always argued for a smaller federal government, this is a remarkably horrible way to implement it. The men who have done this are insulated from the consequences of their actions. Many of them were elected by a reactionary base that is probably very happy that the economy will be negatively impacted by this. Remember, these are the same people who rallied carrying signs that read: ‘Government Stay Out Of My Medicare’ for goodness sake. This is not how things work in a sane government. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/562 "2013-10-04T17:49:33Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Call it a “teachable moment”. No. I won’t. Few of us will. Here’s a teachable moment, for comparison. You lost. The laws were passed by duly elected representatives. Obama ran on his agenda, and won. There are no provisions in our system for “do-overs”. You don’t get a Mulligan. You lost. There is your teachable moment. And it is, to borrow a phrase, legal and Constitutional. You can do what the lefties do, we know lots about losing. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back in the game. But you don’t get to demand overtime when the score wasn’t tied. Because, as noted above, you lost. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/563 "2013-10-04T17:50:10Z")
> [@Gagundathar](#): > > While I have always argued for a smaller federal government, this is a remarkably horrible way to implement it. Of course it is. But I haven’t seen anyone even attempt to implement any others. > [@](#): > > This is not how things work in a sane government. No. “Sane” governments just grow and grow and grow. And grow. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/564 "2013-10-04T17:51:34Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > No. I won’t. Few of us will. Of course not. Teaching a lefty something is a thankless task. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/565 "2013-10-04T17:53:52Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Call it a “teachable moment”. Call it “deliberate cruelty towards others.” ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/566 "2013-10-04T17:56:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Of course not. Teaching a lefty something is a thankless task. Helps if you know something he doesn’t. Your reward awaits you in Heaven. And hey! If you don’t have affordable health care, you will get there a lot quicker! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/567 "2013-10-04T18:10:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Of course it is. But I haven’t seen anyone even attempt to implement any others.No. “Sane” governments just grow and grow and grow. And grow. This has always puzzled me, this metaphysical essence that is “government”. The more government there is, the worse it is. So it doesn’t really make any difference what\* kind \*of government? Is this the word of God, then? Suppose you had a very successful endeavor, making some product efficiently and productively. And then, the next day, you become a government entity, suddenly, the Presidents name is on your paychecks. Would you instantly become less efficient and productive, because now you’re the government? Who discovered this rock-solid principle? Where is it Written? For me, so long as the government is of the people, by the people, and for the people, it doesn’t matter how “big” it is. So long as we tell the government what to do, rather than the wrong way around, its cool. But now you want us to believe that a minority wing of one branch of the government should make the rules. So, why bother to have elections, if you won’t allow anything to be different when you lose? What’s the point? You win the elections, you win, you lose the elections, you win. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/568 "2013-10-04T18:25:14Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Of course not. Teaching a lefty something is a thankless task. The reason you’re angry, so seethingly angry, is that you believe things that are not true. Your ideology demands that government can do nothing right, but that simply isn’t the case. It does a lot right. And healthcare for every American is a reasonable goal. The evidence is clear, other nations do it, and they do it for much less than we do. We have a backwards system and keeping it will cause it to collapse. Where on Earth does the “Free Market Healthcare” you advocate work? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/569 "2013-10-04T18:36:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > But now you want us to believe that a minority wing of one branch of the government should make the rules. The “minority wing” does not make the rules. The majority in the house voted for those bills. Or didn’t you notice? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/570 "2013-10-04T18:47:28Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > The “minority wing” does not make the rules. The majority in the house voted for those bills. Or didn’t you notice? Obamacare went through all the steps, survived a Supreme Court Challenge and became _law_…or didn’t you notice? ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/571 "2013-10-04T18:49:54Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I do realize that. As I said, I’d prefer the government to be reduced gradually. But even the way it is done now it is good to make people realize that the government’s teat is not bottomless and that government jobs should not be inherently more secure than private sector. Frankly, I despise people who think ideology trumps people’s well-being. Regardless of what that ideology is. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/572 "2013-10-04T18:52:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Obamacare went through all the steps, survived a Supreme Court Challenge and became _law_…or didn’t you notice? Yes. And the House is trying to change it, in a lawful and democratic way…or didn’t you notice? ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/573 "2013-10-04T18:53:40Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > Frankly, I despise people who think ideology trumps people’s well-being. Regardless of what that ideology is. Any kind of change causes damage to _someone_’s well-being. Even Obamacare. Surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/574 "2013-10-04T18:54:14Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes. And the House is trying to change it, in a lawful and democratic way…or didn’t you notice? I didn’t notice them trying to repeal it, which is how it is normally done. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/575 "2013-10-04T18:54:34Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Yes. And the House is trying to change it, in a lawful and democratic way…or didn’t you notice? _blink_ _blink_ _deep breath_ _reserves comments better suited to another forum_ No, actually I hadn’t noticed. What I DID notice was a hostage-taking operation of insane proportions which basically amounts to 230-odd (very odd) giant-size infants kicking and screaming because they didn’t get their way. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/576 "2013-10-04T18:55:27Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > _blink_ > _blink_ > _deep breath_ > _reserves comments better suited to another forum_ > > No, actually I hadn’t noticed. What I DID notice was a hostage-taking operation of insane proportions which basically amounts to 230-odd (very odd) giant-size infants kicking and screaming because they didn’t get their way. Lawful. Democratic. Apparently you have no idea what those concepts mean. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/577 "2013-10-04T18:57:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I didn’t notice them trying to repeal it, which is how it is normally done. It’s funny how you talk about what is “normally done” when the passage of Obamacare was rife with all kinds of tricks that are not “normally done”. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/578 "2013-10-04T18:57:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I didn’t notice them trying to repeal it, which is how it is normally done. Actually, they DID try to repeal it. Forty-three times. It’s just that they a) couldn’t QUITE get enough of their own in the Senate to shepherd the repeal through that chamber and b) even if they had, they don’t have a veto-proof majority in the House, and a repeal WOULD be vetoed. The problem is that the Republicans don’t appear to recognize how our democratic republic works and decided to stage a coup instead. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/579 "2013-10-04T18:58:21Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > The problem is that the Republicans don’t appear to recognize how our democratic republic works and decided to stage a coup instead. Legal. Democratic. Find out what that means. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068/580 "2013-10-04T18:58:32Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Any kind of change causes damage to _someone_’s well-being. Even Obamacare. Surprised? Do you think Obamacare helps more people than it hurts? Because the shutdown hurts more people than it helps. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=28) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/run-for-the-hills-government-shutdown-in-effect/670068.md?page=30)