Eddie Scarry of the Federalist wonders whether congressional Republicans will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
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.
