# Why are Democrats being blamed for the shutdown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 8, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788 "2025-10-08T17:11:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/81 "2025-10-28T01:24:22Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > That’s _not_ how democracy works. How it works is you keep the democracy up and running at all times . . . That sounds to me how it works in a dictatorship. Democracy requires the king (or other executive) to have taxation and spending set by the parliament (or other legislature). If this means what is called, in parliamentary systems, a failure of supply, or in American terms, a shutdown, that’s a democratic result. It might be an example of democracy being worse than all the other systems of government, but it is democratic. The U.S. is not, this year, a representative democracy. Nor is it a fascist dictatorship. Consider: [How Trump Violated the Law to Pay the Military](https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/how-trump-violated-the-law-to-pay-the-military) That was a classic move where the caudillo acts as a dictator. But since Trump is still letting Congress have some influence, I live under a hybrid regime. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/82 "2025-10-28T01:30:23Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > But since Trump is still letting Congress have some influence, I live under a hybrid regime. For now, at least. Trump doesn’t need absolute power as long as he has the effective obeisance of the GOP-dominated Congress, and a Supreme Court that largely backs his agenda (even if they sometimes defy him on particulars that are too far of a reach to be covered by the doctrine of ‘originalism’). We’ll see what happens if Republicans lose control of the House in mid-term elections, or somehow enough Republicans are cajoled by their constituents to find a backbone and defy Trump and Johnson in anything more than trivial opposition. But it is very clear that for Trump democracy is an annoying buzz and the Constitution is an obstacle that he’d sooner order someone to drive a tank over than to lift a finger in defense of. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/83 "2025-10-28T01:44:36Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The **fact** is that the Republicans will not compromise. Because of that, they are responsible for the shutdown. Fact. > …. > If one side is willing to negotiate, and the other won’t, the side that won’t negotiate is to blame. Full stop. If I misquoted anything, let me know. I think this captures the sentiment. I disagree. Let me know what is not true or misleading below. The issue is passing a bill to fund the Govt. That’s the only issue that is causing the shutdown. There are many other very important issues, but none are causing the shutdown. D’s are voting nay on passing a clean bill to open the Gov’t. R’s are voting nay on a bill that would both open the Gov’t AND (unrelated to causing the shutdown) passing ACA subsidies. I’m not aware of any offers of compromise between those two positions. The R’s are not compromising an inch on the ACA subsidies. The subsidies portion is not causing the shutdown. Is this right? Generally speaking. I think it is right enough. And a weaker negotiating position for D’s - the clean bill is simplistic. I don’t think the D’s message the importance of ACA subsidies well enough to help their position enough. So if I had to bet, you just keep hammering the R’s lack of commitment to healthcare/raising costs to help midterms for as long as you can, but a clean bill ultimately passes. This is politics. What is a good way help put more pressure on centrist R’s? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/84 "2025-10-28T02:05:45Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > R’s are voting nay on a bill that would both open the Gov’t AND (unrelated to causing the shutdown) passing ACA subsidies. Rs are also voting nay on passing a clean bill to open the government. They’re also voting nay on a bill with as much dirt as they want in it to open the government. Again, the Republicans are the majority. If they wanted the government re-opened, under any conditions whatsoever, they would do that. The fact that they aren’t is absolute proof that they want the government to be shut down. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/85 "2025-10-28T02:09:45Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > In my personal situation, I first burned all my accumulated PTO. So it was just a forced vacation. A few days later, that ran out and I went into time-debt with my employer. I now owe them about 4 months of work in order to get back to zero PTO. I have no idea what this individual’s employment situation is. The discussion of PTO and the duration described is different from my experience. I have not been paid for time worked since the end on September. My paycheck on 10/10 was for roughly 7 out of 10 days and I received no paycheck last Friday. As a fed for 39 years, I’ve never had a position where I “banked PTO.” ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/86 "2025-10-28T02:11:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The fact that they aren’t is absolute proof that they want the government to be shut down. Also the fact that the Democrats wanted to pass a temporary bill to keep things going for 7-10 days, so that they could work out a deal to prevent poor people from losing healthcare. The Republicans refused, saying they needed something to extend into late November, thus ensuring that people lose their healthcare coverage at the November 1 deadline. [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-democrats-trump-set-face-off-budget-battle-that-could-trigger-govt-shutdowns-2025-09-29/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-democrats-trump-set-face-off-budget-battle-that-could-trigger-govt-shutdowns-2025-09-29/) > Prior to the White House meeting, Democrats floated a plan that would extend current funding for seven to 10 days, according to Democratic sources, which could buy time to hammer out a more permanent agreement. That is shorter than the timeline backed by Republicans, which would extend funding to November 21. > House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Congress needs to make those tax breaks permanent now because higher health insurance premiums are being finalized and the new signup period starts November 1. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/87 "2025-10-28T02:28:04Z")
I’m talking only about big picture long-term bills. If your first sentence is true re a clean long term bill I’m unaware. It just means to me R’s think they can outlast the pressure w/o changing the rules. D’s are playing the same game re pressure. Probably about equal blame now. Do yall really think D’s have no power to open the Gov’t? Like genuinely? This is where this thread loses me and gets silly. I think raising healthcare costs are important to address and I’m all for it. Late: I’m also talking in generalities; I’m aware there is bipartisan support for both positions. ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/88 "2025-10-28T02:34:20Z")
It is basically unique to America that the accepted norm is to allow the opposition to block the budget for an indefinite period of time. Its far more democratic to simply say that the majority was given their power bu the public and they don’t need to ask permission from the losers for anything they want to fund or defund. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/89 "2025-10-28T02:36:03Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I think raising healthcare costs are important to address and I’m all for it. This is the only way it will get addressed. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/90 "2025-10-28T02:39:24Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > @Chessic_Sense seems to feel that Democrats are somehow obligated to concede to whatever Republicans want > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I have no interest in addressing hypothetical ‘strawman’ arguments that don’t pertain to the actual issue at hand. Oh, really? You were happy to discuss hypothetical arguments when you were telling me how I feel or what I think, but when I straight up tell you how I feel or what I think, suddenly you “have no interest” in it anymore. Got it. So what you’re saying is, you’ve basically got your tail between your legs. In that case, there’s no reason to read any of the rest of the drivel you’ve posted. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > I’ve never had a position where I “banked PTO.” When I say banked PTO, I mean accumulated earned leave. You know, your Annual Leave balance goes up? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/91 "2025-10-28T02:47:57Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Do yall really think D’s have no power to open the Gov’t? Like genuinely? This is where this thread loses me and gets silly. > > I think raising healthcare costs are important to address and I’m all for it. Yeah this is an example of the democrats choosing to hold government funding hostage over healthcare subsidies. You can acknowledge this while also agreeing with the decision. I don’t think it would be a good idea if the gop were a sne party. As it is the republicans have completely botched their messaging on this and the hostage taking is more likely to either force an actual compromise from the gop or going nuclear on the filibuster (both of which would be good outcomes imo). Not to mention the way the Republicans passed a budget last time and then rescinded some of the things theyd just passed makes it more justifiable for dems yo get in the mud on budget negotiations. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/92 "2025-10-28T02:48:12Z")
> [@DeadTreasSecretaries](#): > > Its far more democratic to simply say that the majority was given their power bu the public and they don’t need to ask permission from the losers for anything they want to fund or defund. Well, it seems that they have to “ask permission from the losers” to get the votes that they need to pass a continuing resolution. But more absurdly, we are at a point of extreme partisanship where a party which ostensibly wants to run the government have preferred to sit on their hands rather than to even discuss a compromise because their leader (to whom they have effectively ceded all responsibility and authotity) has told them to, or in the case of the House of Representatives have actually abandoned their jobs and avoided their constituents in a display that exceeds both mere cowardice and obsequiousness. The Democrats are certainly terrible as messaging and may have resorted to the option of last resort, but at least they are showing up for work. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/93 "2025-10-28T02:49:36Z")
100% agree. I just think it’s too late is all to actually accomplish it. And the pressure on R’s isn’t bad enough for them to have to do something. You can still do something about it once the rates are raised. Makes for a great mid/terms. It’s real $$ then being felt too, in blue and red states. What are the actual mechanics? You get a premium to apply for the 2026 year when you pay your taxes on April 15, 2027. But, importantly, you can apply that credit (estimate) in real time to your actual payment made in Jan 2026, and the next month and the next, etc. right? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/94 "2025-10-28T02:51:08Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Well, it seems that they have to “ask permission from the losers” to get the votes that they need to pass a continuing resolution. Yes, they need this because we have a unique flavor of democracy where you need a supermajority. In most presidential systems you need the president and simple majorities in each legislative body. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/95 "2025-10-28T02:51:34Z")
**Moderating:** > [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > You’re losing PTO and a few paychecks; these are people who are literally losing access to lifesaving care and critical medicines such as insulin. I get that you don’t care about this, but many people with some sense of human empathy do This little digression is verging on a direct personal attack. Continue to feel free to disagree about the comparative merits of allowing the shutdown to continue, but avoid attacks on posters whose position you disagree with. > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > In that case, there’s no reason to read any of the rest of the drivel you’ve posted. @Chessic_Sense - I know you feel provoked, but I’m asking both of you, and the rest of the thread to turn down the attacks on posters. As always, and to _everyone_ **attack the post, not the poster**. _This is just a guidance, not a warning. Nothing on your permanent record._ ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/96 "2025-10-28T02:53:39Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > In fact, Senate Republicans could discuss, debate, and come to an agreement to add this provision in prompt fashion, garnering the necessary votes to fund the government in the interim and end the shutdown. If they do, don’t the Republican Representatives also have to agree on a conciliation bill? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/97 "2025-10-28T02:56:43Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I just think it’s too late is all to actually accomplish it. And the pressure on R’s isn’t bad enough for them to have to do something. To avoid the November 1 deadline, yes. The Republicans were crazy enough to drag it out this far. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/98 "2025-10-28T03:08:38Z")
The Republican leadership isn’t _personally_ suffering, and their followers will blame the Democrats no matter what, so they don’t really have an incentive to back down. And “the cruelty is the point”; if the public suffers that’s not a _problem_ for them, that isn’t incentive to keep the government shut down longer. If thousands or millions of people starve or end up homeless? They’ll be _ecstatic._ ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/99 "2025-10-28T03:10:59Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > The Republican leadership isn’t _personally_ suffering, and their followers will blame the Democrats no matter what, so they don’t really have an incentive to back down. Their base isn’t going to carry them in the midterms. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/100 "2025-10-28T03:13:29Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Their base isn’t going to carry them in the midterms. They don’t need their base, they can simply declare themselves the winners regardless of the actual votes and dare the Democrats to do anything about it. That after all has been their pattern for years; ignore the rules, ignore the laws and just do whatever they want and dare anyone to stop them. So far it’s worked very well for them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=6)