On the Imminent closure of the US Government and Obamacare

[KMD]

So, in case you haven't heard, if the US House of Representatives (Rep) and Senate (Dem) don't reach a spending agreement by Monday, the federal government will shut down. Obviously, essential services will still be in place but about 1/3 of federal employees may unexpectedly not be returning to work on tuesday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/politics/budget-talks-government-shutdown.html?_r=0


Also on Tuesday, Obama's  Affordable Health Care Plan (Obamacare), which republicans have been aggressively fighting, will starting going into effect!
   Heres a short video courtesy of the white house explaining some of the changes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQG8eZs8AJc
 
  For our readers outside the US, let me tell you firsthand that our health insurance system is indeed shit (in my experience). Right now I'm covered by my parents' plan, until age 24 (soon to be 26). Unfortunately, our  coverage is pretty awful; We're paying $400+ a month, and still have a $10,000 deductible. Hell, my mother recently went into have some minor tests done, and found that her co-pay was actually less paying out of pocket than it was using our insurance. For many people in the US, facing a major accident and being unable to pay off the exorbitant health care costs is a very real fear.

Exciting times people!

[The Hanged Man]

Deadline's passed, this means that for the first time in 17 years many government services will close.

There's only one sensible course of action...

ANARCHY!

[KMD]

Lets go forth into the desert and create a colony of the truly free. There will be no law, politics, or religion. Only the great karmic energy will keep us together. We will call it the Unwashed Village

Time to party!

And I call dibs on the wenches.

[AcdQueen89]

Why do you say wenches are something to "dib"?  Unless you typoed "wrenches" you can have those

[The Hanged Man]

And I call dibs on the wenches.

I call dibs on the Prime Minister's office!

Why do you say wenches are something to "dib"?  Unless you typoed "wrenches" you can have those

I don't know, if the president "dibbed" me, I'd feel pretty honored.

[TK]

Hmm I think that most of the time 'wenches' refers to BC in a wig and me in a kilt, I don't 'dib' for no man.

[The Hanged Man]

"Darrell M West, vice president of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution
 
The problem with American politics is that Tea Party activists have taken over the Republican Party.

They come from small, rural districts and now are demanding that House Speaker John Boehner practises extremist politics.

Boehner could end this stalemate today by allowing a continuing resolution to go to the floor for a vote without repealing Obamacare. It would pass and this crisis would be resolved.

However, conservatives have warned that if Mr Boehner allows a floor vote without their support, they will depose him and elect another Speaker.

This crisis is not so much a governability problem as a war within the Republican Party. It won't be resolved until prominent Republicans demand that the House takes action." - Darrell M West, vice president of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution

I think that what Bluecross said last year was right.

The current US Congress makes me want to puke, and I put 85% of the blame on the Republicans ("First order of business: Fight Obama!   Second order of business: Fight Obama   Third order of business: Fight Obama  ad nauseum").   When that kind of ideology overshadows any sense of fiscal or moral responsibility, I end up hoping that they have shot themselves in both feet (and maybe the abdomen) and thus have no chance of re-election.

The republicans appear (correct me if I'm wrong) to care for nothing other than crushing Obama and his health care bill.

Article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24346960

[BlueCross]

And I call dibs on the wenches.

Why are there never enough wenches to go around?

[The Hanged Man]

And I call dibs on the wenches.

Why are there never enough wenches to go around?

You left the door open and let them loose.

[Xerxes]

*presses button 525 on the Xcutsel Widget, making himself Lord High Everything Else*

*presses button 939 on said widget, setting out wench-bait of chocolate and wine*

[Thanatos]

I have an actual opinion about this!  Don't worry boys, it's an easy opinion to swallow.  The problem with our government is gerrymandering!  And also the lack of congressional term limits, but let's focus on gerrymandering, 'cause it's a funny fucking word.

I mean, it really is gerrymandering.  Congressional representatives no longer have to give a SHIT about what people in general want; their districts are carefully sliced to make sure that only people who agree with them can vote about them, so fuck actually thinking about problems!  Clearly, what I'm saying isn't true 100% of the time, but it's true enough.

GERRYMANDERING: FUCK YOU, GERRY
 

[Hoopy Frood]

And the state governments are just as bad on the Gerrymandering front.

[AcdQueen89]

If only I had an answer to "why" that didnt remind me of kids on the playground