By Sensible Sue
The government shutdown is over, but let’s not confuse that with victory.
This wasn’t a compromise. It was capitulation. After forty long days, the longest shutdown in U.S. history, America’s working class, the elderly, the sick, and the poor watched as their future, and their literal lives were traded away by the very people who promised to protect them.
Eight Democrats, yes Democrats, locked arms with the MAGA Republicans and handed over the one thing worth fighting for: health care for 20 million Americans. Let’s call them by name: Dick Durbin. Tim Kaine. John Fetterman. Jeanne Shaheen. Maggie Hassan. Angus King. Catherine Cortez Masto. Jackie Rosen. Now technically, Angus King is actually an Independent, but he has always caucused with the democrats, and has always been a reliable vote. Nevertheless, these eight didn’t just cross the aisle. They crossed a moral line.
The deal they supported wasn’t just to reopen the government. Oh no. The deal was to kick the can down the road, a very short one at that. These folks voted with the MAGA crowd to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies, Obamacare’s lifeline, until January 30th, based on the promise of an extension vote in the Senate. It is beyond anyone who understands the government why the ”Traitor Eight” would agree to such a horrific outcome for millions of human beings.
They chose to gamble with American lives for just a few short months of borrowed time. After that, the subsidies vanish, and with them, the lifeline for millions of Americans who rely on affordable coverage to stay alive. Now I know that some people are still under the assumption that the House still gets a say in the matter, but that assumption would be incorrect, as Speaker Mike Johnson has made it clear that he will never bring an Affordable Care Act extension vote to the floor. This is why the actions of the “Traitor Eight” are so appalling and just plain diabolical.
Let’s talk numbers: 15 million people will be thrown off Medicaid. Add that to the 20 million who will lose their ACA subsidies, and you’ve got 35 million Americans left behind. And according to multiple studies, more than 50,000 people in this country will die unnecessary deaths every single year because of this decision to let the ACA subsidies expire. All so the wealthiest one percent can enjoy a $1 trillion tax break.
That’s not policy. That’s betrayal. These eight senators didn’t find common ground. They traded away human lives for political convenience. And for what? A temporary extension that expires before the snow melts in February. Meanwhile, they’ll continue to enjoy the very best health care our crumbling system has to offer. They will continue to receive platinum healthcare coverage that is taxpayer-funded, and perfectly shielded from the chaos they just unleashed on everyone else. For the rest of America, the people who actually work, care for families, and keep this country running, the pain is just beginning.
If you or someone you love lives with hypertension, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, cancer, kidney disease, depression or any other type of chronic medical condition, brace yourself. When those subsidies end, your premiums will triple. Some will even quadruple. And make no mistake, that’s not just financial strain. That’s a slow, painful death sentence for millions. This isn’t reform, This isn’t responsibility. This is a moral failure of historic proportions.
The shutdown may be over, but the conscience of this country? It’s on life support. The very heartbeat of America; the working people, the sick, the elderly, children, the vulnerable, have once again been told they don’t matter. And if you think this ends here, think again.
Because when January 30th rolls around, and people start losing coverage by the millions, remember the names. Dick Durbin. Tim Kaine. John Fetterman. Jeanne Shaheen. Maggie Hassan. Angus King. Catherine Cortez Masto. Jackie Rosen.
Never forget the “Traitor Eight” chose politics over people. Power over principle. Profit over life.
Don’t let them spin it. Don’t let them rewrite it. This wasn’t a compromise. It was cowardice combined with cruelty. No member of the “The Traitor Eight” has any moral authority to tell anyone in the United States anything ever again. Please, have several seats and keep your hind parts in them, because frankly, you people have done more than enough. Indeed, the shutdown is over but so is America’s moral compass.