Letters: Shutdown panic accomplished nothing

image0- Letters: Shutdown panic accomplished nothing

IRVINE, Stephen Stubberud: In this latest fight over fiscal restraint and legal

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, a key player behind the U.S. government shutdown. (© Allison Shelley/ZUMA Wire/ZUMA24.com).

fairness, I watched a country panic over nothing [“Now the real work beings,” Front Page, Oct. 17]. The word “default” was incorrectly drummed into our heads as we were told that if we did not increase our revolving credit limit a calamity would strike, even though we had the money to service existing debt, including debt owed to cover Social Security. We were told that once debt was paid new debt could be taken.

Wall Street threw a hissy fit, then rejoiced before the vote, and is now, the day after, down as I write this. We now learn that the so-called clean bill included $2-plus billion of pork for Sen. Mitch McConnell's home state and a decent sum to the widow of a recent senator from New Jersey.

Congress is still not covered by Obamacare. Companies and unions still get their exemptions, and we the people have to live under Obamacare, while companies have a one-year reprieve.

A tax on your pacemaker and a new knee is still in place [medical-device tax]. Oh, but we are assured that people will have to prove their income to get government subsidies on health care. (Right after they prove their identity when they vote.)

The country is in a death spiral and people care more about the Kardashians and Miley Cyrus. I thought America was better, but I guess every country will fall for the bread and circus routine.


CYPRESS, Marlena Bricker: Regarding the lack of backbone in the Establishment Republican Party as shown on its vote to end the partial shutdown (that no one I know even noticed was taking place) [“Losing a lot to get little,” News, Oct. 17]: As a proud member of the conservative Tea Party, I am disgusted with the Establishment GOP. My husband and I will not be giving any money to the GOP but instead donating to specific politicians anywhere in the United States who are committed to conservative fiscal principles.

If that means we lose elections to the Democrats, so be it. There is no sense electing Republicans who campaign as conservatives but, once elected, go to Washington and govern as a pale version of the Democrats.

The power is in the state houses, where Republicans have the vast majority and that number will grow in the coming years. Of course, California is lost to the liberals, yet there are many other states with Republican governors and assemblies.

House Speaker John Boehner showed absolutely no leadership or willingness to fight because he doesn't believe in conservative fiscal principles. If Boehner had been a general during World War II, we'd all be speaking German today.


LAGUNA NIGUEL, Steve Bell: Are we now expected to admire the failures of those who endeavor to solve problems beyond their capability? Sen. Ted Cruz, Rep. John Boehner and, as an extension, the Tea Party are seeking accolades for tying up government, forcing furloughs and “fighting the good fight” when even by their own admission they never had a chance at repeal of Obamacare nor reduction of expenditures.

Yet now they expect praise for grinding our nation to a halt for two weeks while they pandered to their constituents. Defending, much less praising this nonsense shows the depths of anguish the Republican Party has reached.

The only thing that will save the Republicans in the 2014 elections is the gerrymandering of safe districts that they have created. It is sad to see the party of Ronald Reagan reduced to this.


SAN CLEMENTE, Earle McNeil: Have you ever noticed that the people who belittle and call others names have no other solutions to offer?

I hope that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid realizes that his overspending will eventually cause his kids and grandkids to end up rioting like those in Greece. The Republicans are just trying to prevent this.

A 401(k) travesty?

LAGUNA BEACH, Michael Gonzalez: Letter-writer Polly Saunders has a puzzling view of public-sector, defined-benefit pensions versus the self-funded or employer-funded pension methods that the rest of us live with [“The 401(k) farce,” Oct. 12].


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