Government Shutdown Should Cause "Formidable Outcry"

By Chuck Marshall
   

                                                                         Thomas Paine
                                                       


    I love this quote from Thomas Paine;  "A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right".  He was referring to the King of England, however I think today it applies to the two- party system that we suffer for today. This government shutdown (the most current one, there have now been several) is because of their "never-ending" story of childish and greedy posturing.   The  Democrats and Republicans refuse to "cut a deal" with the other.  This refusal to compromise holds all of us hostage.   It is a childish and obstructionist tactic used by each party to try and stall the current party in power.  Why do we allow our government to be run by these two groups of incompetents ?  The Independents are nearly 40% of all voters!  Libertarians also hold a significant share of voter registrations.  How can these two old fashioned groups of malcontents be allowed to rule unchecked when so many of us are not even a part of their show ?!

     The full quote from Thomas Paine is actually the very first paragraph of the Introduction in his historic book "Common Sense" which changed the tide of history in favor of American Independence.  The full quote goes as follows;

  "Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not yet sufficiently fashionable to procure them general  favor;  a long habit of thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in deference of custom.  But the tumult soon subsides.  Time makes more converts than reason.  

        Perhaps there needs to be a proposal, an effort to move us away from this insanity regardless of the "formidable outcry in deference of custom".  We need to get past the stagnation of the two party system with an alternative that removes their monopoly on power and allows for a more effective government for the good of the people.  That is, after all, the reason they exist in the first place.  It won't be easy, but the "tumult will soon subside" and we can move forward with progress to all people not just the ruling parties.