The shutdown is reminding everyone of the good things government does

[RAB910]

Over half a century ago, the researchers Lloyd Free and Hadley Cantril identified a paradox in American public opinion that largely holds true today. Most Americans, they argued, were “ideologically conservative” but “operationally liberal” when it came to their beliefs about government. People liked the idea of limited government in the abstract, believing they could and should be able to get along without government’s help. But when you asked them about the specific things government does, it turned out that they liked just about all of them, and thought government should spend as much or more to keep performing those tasks.

This contradiction, and the persistence of that abstract belief in small government, is in large part what allows Republicans — whose positions on policy issues are mostly unpopular — to stay competitive and hold on to power. But the partial shutdown of the federal government is giving all of us a vivid demonstration of what government actually does. By taking it away.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/11/shutdown-is-reminding-everyone-good-things-government-does/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.87d827d37027

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[ooky]

2. Good point.

K&R

[DavidDvorkin]

3. They'll forget quickly

They always do.

[Dave Starsky]

4. "Government of the people, by the people, and FOR the people"?

Who knew?

Maybe the Republican who wrote that?

[peggysue2]

5. This is an excellent point

Perhaps one of the few (if any) silver linings in this senseless shutdown: revealing the attributes of a government that works vs one that doesn't.

Maybe we can finally crush the myth/propaganda of 'drowning the government in a bathtub' as a desirable outcome.