Oklahoma Readers speak up for and against the shutdown
Published: October 1st, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY – From right, left, center or points indeterminate on the political spectrum, a cascade of emails and Facebook posts responded an open invitation to readers of Oklahoma Watchdog and CapitolBeatOK to cuss or discuss the shutdown of the federal government.
On the conservative end of the scale, writer John Mallon was for any steps to “throw the dangerous incompetence of Obama into relief.”
From the Tulsa branch of the 9/12 group, Ronda Vuellemont-Smith observed, ” I hope that Harry Reid stops refusing to negotiate and works with the House to avoid a government shutdown, and works to make ObamaCare fair for all. If American citizens have to participate in the boondoggle called ‘ObamaCare’ then so should the President and Congress.”
“I wish they could just close the White House,” commented Tracy Conrad Lorah. James Davenport’s assessment? “17 trillion debt. What else needs to be said?” Radio commentator Reid Mullins had this: “Unless you’re a Fed employee, you won’t notice. Doesn’t make it right, but that’s the way it is for most Americans (and ALL illegals).”
Bob Dani, a Second Amendment advocate, endorsed House Republican tactics: “Shut it down, just to show the American People the Federal Government isn’t needed to run our daily lives.”
Connie Marshner, author of hundreds of articles and several books, wrote: “If you can be objective about what’s good for the country, and take the time to pay attention to what’s going on, you can see that it’s a necessary tactic to try to get the country (and the Senate!) to pay attention to the real crisis. Unfortunately, there are now three generations who have never been taught by their schooling to separate their feelings from the facts, so the stage is set for some massive misunderstanding.”
More to the Left were a few late night pundits, including Oklahoma City Realtor Carla Splaingard: “I am delighted with the affordable Care Act. It will benefit my family . I wish those in the House including Oklahoma reps would focus on more than their bias.”
“Is this a big deal, or not?” this writer asked. Public school teacher Lynn Green answered, “Big deal for my students facing a lack of services.” Sean Cummings contended, “It filled days of the news cycle. I’m furious that these people cannot behave like adults and cut a deal.”
A few readers fell somewhere in-between.
Right at the stroke of midnight, Kevin Carignan reflected, “It happened back in 1995 and we survived then, so I am sure that we survive this. Is it necessary? Of course not. Will there be an economic impact? Yes.”
When the House recessed for the night, Carisa Rowe wondered: “Don’t the creeps have to work till midnight?” John Bratt lamented, “The quest for ideologically pure elected leaders means that this will happen again and again.”
A veteran of the war on terror now in civilian life, Texan Mark D. Young reflected, “The combination of monied interests and ideologies has created a system that refuses to allow compromise to be reached, or genuine discussions to be had, between both sides — leaving us with this all-or-nothing politics.”
Stephen Rhymer of the city said, “This is an unnecessary power play by both sides who put personal gain – money and power – over what is best for the nation.”
This might be more cultural than political: “I realize fuel, food, and housing are always increasing, but what ever happened to living within your means and saving something for a rainy day? With the storm clouds hovering on the horizon it looks like we might have a little rain. And some people are acting like it would be the end of the world if a government shutdown occurs. It is highly unlikely that it would last more than a few days,” said Teresa Turner.
She gets the last word, save for this: The comments are drawn from more than 100 emails or posts, on a night when one post drew over 900 “views” – with another snagging 700.
You may contact Pat McGuigan: Patrick@capitolbeatok.com