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Sowell: Who Shut Down the Government? (great read)
Creators Syndicate ^ | October 3, 2013 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 10/03/2013 11:22:13 AM PDT by jazusamo

Even when it comes to something as basic, and apparently as simple and straightforward, as the question of who shut down the federal government, there are diametrically opposite answers, depending on whether you talk to Democrats or to Republicans.

There is really nothing complicated about the facts. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted all the money required to keep all government activities going — except for ObamaCare.

This is not a matter of opinion. You can check the Congressional Record.

As for the House of Representatives' right to grant or withhold money, that is not a matter of opinion either. You can check the Constitution of the United States. All spending bills must originate in the House of Representatives, which means that Congressmen there have a right to decide whether or not they want to spend money on a particular government activity.

Whether ObamaCare is good, bad or indifferent is a matter of opinion. But it is a matter of fact that members of the House of Representatives have a right to make spending decisions based on their opinion.

ObamaCare is indeed "the law of the land," as its supporters keep saying, and the Supreme Court has upheld its Constitutionality.

But the whole point of having a division of powers within the federal government is that each branch can decide independently what it wants to do or not do, regardless of what the other branches do, when exercising the powers specifically granted to that branch by the Constitution.

The hundreds of thousands of government workers who have been laid off are not idle because the House of Representatives did not vote enough money to pay their salaries or the other expenses of their agencies — unless they are in an agency that would administer ObamaCare.

(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: debtceiling; govshutdown; obama; obamacare; pain; reid; shutdown; sowell; tax; taxpayers; thomassowell; voters
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To: Ready4Freddy

I’m not positive but I believe only the first bill was voted down by the Senate and the subsequent proposals were sent back by Dingy Harry.


21 posted on 10/03/2013 12:34:19 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

BUMP! How I ADORE his brain! :)


22 posted on 10/03/2013 12:36:47 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: bkaycee

We, the People, don’t feel the need to fund our own destruction.

***********
When will the spending stop? We have borrowed, taxed and printed our way into a false prosperity. But we are reaching the mathematical limits to each of these and have amassed an unpayable debt. This party will not end well.


23 posted on 10/03/2013 12:57:16 PM PDT by Starboard
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Mr. Sowell....”...But unless the Republicans get their side of the story out...”

Therein lies the rub....The MSM will NOT, under any circumstances, get the republicans side of the story out...
It will only be liberal spin...


24 posted on 10/03/2013 1:13:34 PM PDT by Boonie
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To: jazusamo
It can't be said any clearer than that.

This should be read from the floor of the house and the senate, it should be in all of the newspapers and radio and television news programs.

That's if the object of the politicians and news media was to inform the electorate.

25 posted on 10/03/2013 1:51:55 PM PDT by oldbrowser (We have a rogue government in Washington)
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To: jazusamo

That’s what I was thinking too, thanks, jazusamo.


26 posted on 10/03/2013 1:56:40 PM PDT by Ready4Freddy
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To: jazusamo
“ObamaCare is indeed “the law of the land,” as its supporters keep saying, and the Supreme Court has upheld its Constitutionality.”

The Obamacare that we were >>promised<< or the Obamacare that we are stuck with? They are two different animals — one a cuddly little kitty cat, the other a wild ravenous starving lion that will eat the kitty cat and everything in sight. Turns out, they are one and the same. We were just lied to.

Of course, most of us knew that it was a lie. That is why we are so angry.

27 posted on 10/03/2013 2:44:49 PM PDT by dhs12345
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To: jazusamo

It’s called a “check” and it gives us “balance”.


28 posted on 10/03/2013 2:49:56 PM PDT by DouglasKC
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To: jazusamo

The Stamp Act was the law of the land. The whole American Revolution was obviously a mistake.


29 posted on 10/03/2013 2:50:14 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: jazusamo

Sowell makes it easy to understand and identifies the real cuplrits in this fiasco.

One thing I don’t understand, though, is why the Republicans continue to let the Demedia control how Republicans are portrayed.

Obama and his cronies continually beat the drum that a faction of one party in one house is behind the shut-down. And that we’re all “held hostage,” blah-blah-blah. He makes it sound like a tiny group is controlling things.

Actually, it’s Obama and the Senate Dems (and their useful tools among the RINOs) that are the small minority (controlling the Senate and the Oval Office) that are blocking the will of the majority (the House Republicans and the constituents all across the country that they represent).

There are more elected representatives that were put into office by a majority that wants to be rid of Omabacare than the minority that want to keep the boondoggle alive. The Republican majority in the house was duly elected and have the right, under the Constitution, to decide which agencies and programs are funded (or not).

Why aren’t Boehner and McConnell laying out the facts???


30 posted on 10/03/2013 4:33:39 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: BradyLS
One thing I don’t understand, though, is why the Republicans continue to let the Demedia control how Republicans are portrayed.

Why do we let rattle-snakes bite the way they do? Why do we let skunks continue to smell the way they do?

31 posted on 10/03/2013 4:38:16 PM PDT by ROCKLOBSTER (The "government" is nothing but a RAT jobs program)
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To: BradyLS
Why aren’t Boehner and McConnell laying out the facts???

An excellent question, many say the enemedia won't cover getting the truth out to the country because they're in 0bummer and the Rats pocket.

There's much truth to that but when Sen. Cruz raised the roof just recently it was covered in much of the media. Boehner and McConnell would do well to adopt tactics like Ted Cruz but am not holding my breath.

32 posted on 10/03/2013 4:44:37 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

bump for later


33 posted on 10/03/2013 8:39:52 PM PDT by GOPJ (Brieitbart sent me... Freeper newfreep)
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To: sarasota

Posted this on FB and all my Lib “friends” can do is complain about the Hoover Institute. Typical.


34 posted on 10/04/2013 3:11:35 AM PDT by CityCenter (The solution to all problems is spiritual.)
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To: pallis

excellent post. thank you.


35 posted on 10/04/2013 1:00:43 PM PDT by sappy (criminaldems)
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To: jazusamo

This IS a great read. I was going to post it, but after running a search found it here.


36 posted on 10/04/2013 4:44:44 PM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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To: jazusamo

Please add me to your Sowell ping list!


37 posted on 10/04/2013 4:47:21 PM PDT by keats5 (Not all of us are hypnotized.)
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To: keats5

Yes, it is one of Dr. Sowell’s best.

Welcome to the Sowell ping list, you’re on.


38 posted on 10/04/2013 4:51:12 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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To: jazusamo

Pointed this out to one of dear leader’s useful idiots and, big surprise, he dismissed Sowell as a “political hack”, never mind what he says is verifiable in any bloody news website.

And people wonder why I refer to Obama as dear leader. What else is he to some people when they’re willing to completely ignore reality to say he’s right?


39 posted on 10/04/2013 7:02:44 PM PDT by RWB Patriot ("My ability is a value that must be purchased and I don't recognize anyone's need as a claim on me.")
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To: RWB Patriot

Yep, libs have been ignoring Sowell for many years because they know they can’t debate him or sanely argue the points he makes.

0bama wouldn’t even dare mention Sowell’s name for fear someone would ask him an embarrassing question he couldn’t answer.


40 posted on 10/04/2013 7:13:04 PM PDT by jazusamo ([Obama] A Truly Great Phony -- Thomas Sowell http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3058949/posts)
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