Shutting it down
For Australians, the thought of a government shutdown may be impossible to fathom. But in the US, it's almost becoming a habit.
If you are ever feeling despondent about the state of Australian politics, just spend a bit of time looking at the US. The shambolic state of affairs in America won’t make you feel any better — the country is the engine of global economic growth and our national security depends heavily upon it — but it does put things into perspective.
The political layer of American government has basically devolved into a form of high-stakes theatre. Maybe that is too high-brow a description. High-stakes professional wrestling feels more apt.
This has been on full display today as the US hurtles towards another government shutdown, and as Republicans vying for the Grand Old Party’s nomination at next year’s presidential election squared off in their second debate (with the notable absence of the overwhelming favourite, one Donald J. Trump).
It’s telling that financial markets are barely reacting to the looming likelihood the US government will soon run out of money. If, as it looks, Republicans and Democrats are unable to reach a compromise deal this weekend, the country will enter its fourth shutdown in a decade and the 15th in its history.
