Not that anyone should count on congressional Republicans to take a win when it’s presented on a gold-plated platter, but with each passing second, their position on this stupid, Democrat-driven government “shut down” only grows stronger.
Food stamp recipients aren’t getting their supplements, and air traffic controllers aren’t getting paid. Neither are thousands of other government workers. It’s not because President Trump and his Republican allies are causing a holdup. They’ve voted to continue current government funding levels. It’s because Democrats are demanding that middle-aged people (which is to say, working-aged) get to have cheap or free health insurance.
Seriously, that’s what Democrats are fighting for. According to 2023 data cited by the health policy organization KFF, the average age of a “nonelderly” Obamacare enrollee is 40 years old. Even if elderly Americans were included in this stat, it likely would not make a difference. Most are eligible for Medicare when they turn 65, and Obamacare was designed to extend health care benefits to individuals younger than that. I’m sure some of those younger people really do need the help, but maybe a Democrat can explain why subsidized health insurance is more pressing than making sure government employees, who are still going into work each day, get any money at all. Maybe a Democrat can also explain the logic behind an ultimatum where either early retirees get a nice Obamacare rate, courtesy of the American taxpayer, or food stamp recipients get to figure out a new grocery budget.
This would be like a co-pilot telling the captain he’s refusing to assist in flying the plane until first-class passengers get another pack of peanuts, though there aren’t any left. The rest of the crew and everyone in coach can’t go anywhere, over a thing that might be nice to have, but isn’t really necessary. And now even the first classers aren’t getting where they need to go.
The dumb Democrat co-pilot: Checkmate!
Democrat leaders keep treating the shutdown as their “leverage,” which at its heart is an admission they’re willing to watch tens of thousands of people go without paychecks and food stamps if they can’t get more money for insurance companies. Can’t say I ever saw that one coming.
This isn’t a winning hand, and Democrats are surely aware of it. They once again picked a fight they didn’t have to and took a position that wins them nothing. Their best bet is to count on Republicans screwing up for them. In fairness, it’s a safe bet.
