The superpower shuts down

Ironically—and perhaps fittingly—members of Congress, with their 10 percent approval rating, will continue to get paid throughout the shutdown. PHOTO: REUTERS

Congratulations to the United States Congress.

It has accomplished something that America’s enemies—including al Qaeda—have long wanted to achieve: Bring the government of the world’s sole superpower to a screeching halt.

We Washingtonians are used to talking about shutdowns. Several times in recent years, Congressional gridlock has threatened to bring the government to its knees. Yet last-nanosecond deals have always averted disaster.

Not this time.

The story is sadly simple. Congress can’t agree on how to fund the federal government beyond October 1, the start of the new US fiscal year. In recent days, the Republican Party (goaded by its ultra-conservative Tea Party wing) has passed several stopgap measures that fund the government for a few weeks. Democratic Party members have rejected each one, because the measures all seek to undermine President Obama’s new health care law—which dares (perish the thought) to expand health insurance coverage in America.