Apr 072011
The federal government shutdown, if it happens, likely won’t last more than a few days. But it’s probably a sign of things to come over the next couple years. This batch of House Republicans are deeply conservative and a wide chasm separates their ideology with that of Senate Democrats and the President. Negotiations on any matter of substance are going to be difficult when the two sides have such opposing worldviews. Many of us wonkish types will probably look back at 2009-10 with wistful fondness as a time when government actually got things done. The solutions weren’t perfect, but they were serious efforts to address serious problems. We certainly won’t see much of that from the current Congress.
