Back From The Brink. Again.

The government shutdown that took 16 days, cost billions of dollars, put thousands of employees not considered 'essential' out of work, and threatened to turn the country into the world's biggest deadbeat is finally over.  Both houses of Congress passed bills to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling limit, averting a default.  For now.

So what did all the hollering and grandstanding that took place over the last few weeks really accomplish, as a frustrated and angry nation looked on?  Not a whole lot.  The Tea Party proved themselves to be the uncompromising jerks we always thought they were.  House Speaker John Boehner couldn't lead his way out of a paper bag, watching his fellow Republicans sink into chaos.  President Barack Obama and the Democrats weren't in much of a compromising mood either, holding the line on what they wanted until the GOP said uncle.

On the one issue that caused this unnecessary crisis--defunding the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare--the Republicans failed miserably.  Not only did the ACA remain intact, it has also somehow survived a rocky start as glitches abounded here and there.

Around the world, as people stared in disbelief while Washington played with the possibility of economic havoc, the country is reduced to a laughingstock.  It will be a long time before anyone trusts the U.S. government to get its house in order and stimulate the world economy.

Guess what, folks?  We get to do this all over again in a few months.  The government funding only lasts until January of 2014, and the debt ceiling has to be raised again the following month.  What's going to be the excuse this time?

If there's one thing Congress is particularly good at, it's kicking the can down the proverbial road.  What's going to happen when there's no more can to kick?  You really want to know?

Shutdown Won't Change a Thing In Congress

The second partial federal government shutdown since the Bill Clinton administration has raised passions everywhere you look.  President Barack Obama, the Democrats and Republicans all blame each other for not passing the necessary funding bills to keep the lights on, instead letting a battle over a health care initiative that just became law put the country on the brink.

All this finger-pointing has led to closed parks and museums, furloughed employees, delayed paychecks for those still working, delays in research, and so on.  It has also led to decreased international prestige (the President had to cancel a trip to Asia) and made national security more vulnerable.

About the only thing the shutdown hasn't stopped is the one thing that brought it about in the first place--the Affordable Care Act became law, with federal and state health insurance exchanges now available in most of the country.  Unless, of course, you happen to live in a state run by a Republican government that doesn't think you need health insurance.

All over the country, people are venting their anger over politicians who won't do their jobs while they're losing theirs, threatening to never vote for them again.  Most blame the Republicans, but others aren't cutting the President and the Democrats any slack, either.

Yes, folks, vent your spleen at those numbskulls in Washington all you like.  Just remember that you voted for these people in the first place.  And it's likely you'll be voting for them again.  Here's why:

• Short Memories  The midterm elections aren't until a year from now, which is why incumbents feel confident that the shutdown will be all but forgotten by then. 
• Money Talks  These same incumbents have campaign war chests of millions of dollars, along with front groups who kick in millions more on behalf of (but not directly to) the candidate.  So they can afford to saturate the airwaves and Internet with negative advertising against their hopelessly outspent and overmatched opponent, while seldom promoting their own record.
• Rigged Elections  Many congressional districts are set up in such a way that it's almost impossible for an incumbent to lose his/her seat.  New voter ID laws in some states might restrict access to the ballot box for some people.  Third parties?  Are you kidding?
• "Congress sucks, man.  But my Senator/Representative is doing a great job!"
• Take This Job and . . .   Unless you're fabulously wealthy and more than a bit power-hungry, why would you want to run for Congress?

The first government shutdown lasted nearly a month.  This one looks like it's headed in that direction, unless some kind of deal can be struck between the President and Congress to turn the lights back on.  And the worst may be yet to come, because the debt ceiling has yet to be raised so the government can avoid defaulting on its loans.  Shutdowns may not last forever.  Neither does partisanship and incumbency.  It just seems that way.