If the Republicans are serious about reigning in spending, then I'd support a shutdown.
I think most Americans at this point recognize the unsustainability of our current economic situation, and would likewise support a shutdown to enforce serious cuts.
Emphasis on serious cuts.
If we "reduce deficits to 2006 levels" as Republicans and some Dems are suggesting, that's still 400 billion a year piling onto our 14 trillion-dollar cumulative debt.
The Republicans at this point are offering only slightly more in cuts than the Dems, and it's not enough. We need to be at a point where there is zero deficit added on each year, and where we have at least 200-300 billion a year in surplus, so we can begin paying down our debt. A 200-billion surplus would only be enough to pay the annual interest on the debt and not ever pay off the 14 trillion.
Anything short of that is unsustainable, and not recognizing the seriousness of the problem.
I want someone who is willing offer a federal budget that slashes all departments across the board a minimum of 15 to 20%. No sacred cows. If it's across the board, no one can argue the cuts played favorites.
There's not one citizen in America who could not reduce their spending by 10 or 20 percent if they were forced to. And most of us have in the last 5 years. And every federal department could do the same.
I'm convinced these cuts would not hurt social security or defense or whatever, it would just force them to set better priorities, and eliminate duplication, corruption and waste.
Gingrich was right in 1995-1996 when there was a shutdown. But the American public was shocked by this back then and was not prepared for it.
Now the people see the immediacy of reigning in the debt that is crushing us, and I think would support a shutdown if it comes to that again.
