This Shutdown Isn’t About “The Budget.” It’s About Power.
The government shutdown we’re living through right now is not some complicated fiscal puzzle. It’s not about balancing a checkbook. It’s not about “responsibility.” It’s about power — specifically, who the government serves. On one side, we have lawmakers trying to protect and expand healthcare access, food assistance, education funding, environmental protections, and the basic social supports that allow ordinary people to live with dignity. On the other side, we have the same old coalition of corporate-backed Republicans and MAGA hardliners who insist that the government is “too big” — unless we’re talking about the police , the border enforcement machine , or the military-industrial complex . Those budgets never get cut. Those budgets always grow. There is always money for new weapons, drones, surveillance tools, and prisons. Just not for medication, childcare, clean water, or housing. Funny how that works. They Didn’t Shut Down the Government to Save Money If Republicans were ...