The world, and most people in this country, are distracted by war in Libya, the broader Middle East Revolution, and the earthquake, tsunami, and meltdown in Japan. Meanwhile, back in DC, those responsible for determining government policy and programs are deadlocked. The Republicans and Democrats, the House and the Senate, have given themselves three weeks to resolve disputes over how much to spend and where to spend it, when there is no incentive to come to any agreement at all.
The Republicans, or at least the Tea Party faction within the party, are not bluffing. They are quite willing to shut down the government rather than give in to Democratic appeals for reasonableness in making cuts. I daresay there are some in the Tea Party who would just as soon the federal government disappear entirely, leaving the states as the only real governments. Then the South could truly rise again.
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