Shutting Down

AS YET ANOTHER GOVERNMENT shutdown loomed larger, it became more relevant than ever to inquire into the causes, and possible solutions. Ultimately blame for the shutdown, whether or not it actually happens, belongs to us, the American people. After all, its our government. It shouldn't get this close. It never should have or should reach this point. The fact that we the American people seem to prefer a divided government, with Congress and the Presidency in the hands of more than one party, perhpas to accurately reflect a divided country, has long been observed. The divisions in the governent and throughout the country, are obvious, and seem greater and less resolvable than ever. Another obvious reality is that the most extraordinary development in American politics over the past few years, since, say, the rise of Obama, is the rise of the Trump movement. No matter what in particular is happening in American political life nowadays, chances are that the Trump movement had something to do with it, either through instigating it or responding to it. The problem with Congress is precisely of that nature. The Trump movement is attractive to the most extreme elements within the conservative community and the Republican party, the white supremecists, racists, far right religious community, and so forth. The Congressional Republican delegation, in both houses, is fundamentally and largely made up of Trump supporters. The extremests is the house, including some of the most maligned members of Congress, numbering about twenty, call themselves "The Freedon Caucus", and seperate themselves from the rest of the party. They should probably form their own party. They are the problem. It seem inevitale that the Republican party should be divided over Trump; even among conservatives, incitement to insurrrection, and ninety other felony charges, is enough to inspire second thoughts about a politician, former president or not. The majority mainstream republicans, much more willing to compromise with Democrats, are already blaming their fellow Republican Freedom Caucusers for the stalemate over funding the government, and they also know that the American people are very likely to blame the Republicans generally, and that the blame will quite possibly be reflected in the polls and voting booths in a little over a year. The first government shutdown I can remember occured during the Clinton administration, in 1995. Since then, there have been about ten more. It is becmoning more common. The extreme right wing of the Republican party, causing the problem with the government funding itself, is not part of the mainstream American political spectrum. The American people do not generally support their agenda Assuming that Trump continues his drive to the G.O.P. presidential nomination, and that all across the country many Republican candidates for state and local office run by supporting Trump and his agenda, the American people will have ample opportunity to express their preference for or against Trumpism. Going forward, Trumpism will by necessity include election delialism and approval of violent insurrection.