by David M. Shribman
The drama of the last two weeks has been about the future of nationally mandated health insurance, resuming government spending, extending the debt ceiling and avoiding national default. These are all important matters — any one of them could be enough to stop a country dead in its tracks — and the ordeal of October 2013 surely will be studied by scholars for years to come.
kAmqFE :? 2 H2J E9:D >@?E9VD 4C:D:D 92D 366? 23@FE 6G6? 8C62E6C :DDF6D[ ?@E E96 D@CE E92E 2C6 5632E65 @? E96 7=@@C @7 E96 w@FD6 @C $6?2E6 @C 6G6? :? A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 4=2DD6D[ 3FE :?DE625 2C6 E96 AC6@44FA2E:@? @7 E96 A9:=@D@A9J 56A2CE>6?E 2?5 E96 AF=A:E] (6 92G6 366? D@ 4@?DF>65 H:E9 2G@:5:?8 5672F=E[ @C 492CE:?8 E96 32C@>6EC:4 AC6DDFC6 :?D:56 E96 w@FD6 #6AF3=:42? 4@?76C6?46[ @C H2E49:?8 y@9? q@69?6C 32=2?46 H92E 96 H2?E65 E@ 5@ H:E9 H92E 96 ?66565 E@ 5@[ E92E H6 92G6 @G6C=@@<65 E96 >@C6 6?5FC:?8 BF6DE:@?D E9:D 6A:D@56 92D A@D65]k^Am
kAm(6 <?6H 7C@> E96 DE2CE @7 E9:D DECF88=6 E92E 6G6?EF2==J E96 8@G6C?>6?E H@F=5 @A6? 2?5 E92E 6G6?EF2==J (2D9:?8E@? H@F=5 A2J :ED 3:==D] qFE H6 2=D@ <?@H E92E E9:D 4C:D:D 92D C2:D65 3FE ?@E 2?DH6C65 E96D6 BF6DE:@?D[ F?2G@:523=6 :? @FC AC:G2E6 =:G6D 6G6? :7 E96J 2C6 2G@:523=6 :? =2H>2<6CDV AF3=:4 =:G6Dik^Am
kAm— (96? 5@6D AC:?4:A=65 C6D:DE2?46 364@>6 DEF33@C??6DD 2?5 :?EC2?D:86?46nk^Am
kAmw@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D 2?86C65 s6>@4C2ED 2?5 D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D 7@C E96:C 56E6C>:?2E:@? ?@E E@ 2==@H E96 C68F=2C 7F?4E:@?D @7 8@G6C?>6?E E@ AC@4665 F?E:= ~32>242C6 H2D[ G2C:@FD=J[ C6A62=65[ EC:>>65 324< @C 25;FDE65] |2?J @7 E96D6 =2H>2<6CD H6C6 6=64E65 7C@> 56G@FE=J 4@?D6CG2E:G6 5:DEC:4ED H96C6 C6D:DE2?46 E@ ~32>242C6 :D 86?F:?6 2?5 DEC@?8 2?5 H96C6 E96:C 6=64E:@? E@ r@?8C6DD H2D 7F6=65 3J E96:C G@HD E@ 7:89E ~32>242C6 @? E96 362496D[ @? E96 =2?5:?8 8C@F?5D[ :? E96 7:6=5D[ :? E96 DEC66ED 2?5 :? E96 9:==D]k^Am
kAm|2?J @7 J@F H:== C64@8?:K6 E92E E96 =2EE6C H2D A2C2A9C2D65 7C@> (:?DE@? r9FC49:==VD yF?6 `hc_ QH6 D92== ?6G6C DFCC6?56CQ DA6649[ H9:49 :D D2=FE65 W2D r9FC49:== H@F=5 D2JX 3J t?8=:D9\DA62<:?8 A6@A=6 2D E96 F=E:>2E6 6IAC6DD:@? @7 A@=:E:42= 2?5 >@C2= 56E6C>:?2E:@?] (6 46=63C2E6 :E 3642FD6 H6 25>:C6 E96 42FD6 :? H9:49 96 6?=:DE65 E9@D6 3C2G6 H@C5Di E96 56762E @7 2 3CFE2= EJC2??J 36?E @? H@C=5 5@>:?2E:@? 2?5 E96 6IE6C>:?2E:@? @7 :ED 6?6>:6D[ 3@E9 >:=:E2CJ 2?5 4:G:=:2?]k^Am
kAm~?=J 2 G6CJ 76H H@F=5 4C62E6 2 >@C2= 6BF:G2=6?4J 36EH66? E96 5C:G6 E@ 56762E w:E=6C 2?5 E96 5C:G6 E@ 56762E ~32>242C6j E96C6 :D 2 =68:E:>2E6 42D6 E@ 36 >256 7@C AC@A@CE:@? 2?5 7@C 5:DE:?4E:@?D >256 @? 6E9:42= 8C@F?5D[ 7@C E96C6 :D 2 8C2G6 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 8@G6C?>6?E\>2?52E65 :?DFC2?46 2?5 8@G6C?>6?E\DA@?D@C65 86?@4:56] qFE :? BF6DE:@?D @7 24<?@H=65865 =6DD6C 4@?D6BF6?46[ :E :D ?@E 2D 62DJ 2D E96 E62 A2CEJ 4C:E:4D D2J :E :D E@ 5C2H E96 =:?6 36EH66? C6D:DE2?46 2?5 :?EC2?D:86?46]k^Am
kAm— (96? 5@6D E96 AC24E:42= ECF>A E96 AC:?4:A=6nk^Am
kAmuC@> E96 DE2CE[ $6?] y@9? |4r2:? @7 pC:K@?2 E@=5 9:D #6AF3=:42? 4@==628F6D E92E E96:C 677@CE H2D 5@@>65 E@ 72:=[ E92E E96:C @?6\w@FD6 492==6?86 E@ ~32>242C6 H2D BF:I@E:4 3FE 5@@>65] Q(6 H6C6 56>2?5:?8 D@>6E9:?8 E92E H2D ?@E 249:6G23=6[Q 96 D2:5 :? 6I2DA6C2E:@? %F6D52J ?:89E 2D 96 564=2C65 E96 v~! 925 Q=@DE E9:D 32EE=6]Qk^Am
kAmw:D H@C5D 925 8C62E6C 7@C46 27E6C 2 7@CE?:89E @7 DECF88=6 E92? E96J 5:5 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 E96 42A:E2= 4@?7C@?E2E:@?] p?5 J6E >2?J @7 E96 w@FD6 C636=D 36=:6G65 76CG6?E=J E92E E96J 925 E@ F?56CE2<6 E9:D 32EE=6[ E92E E@ 3@H E@ E96 AC24E:42= H2D E@ D24C:7:46 E96 AC:?4:A=6]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D 2? 6?5FC:?8 E96>6[ 2?5 ?@E @?=J :? 4@?D6CG2E:G6 4:C4=6D] %9C@F89@FE E96 =2E6 `hg_D[ 27E6C EH@ E6C>D @7 #6282?@>:4D[ D@>6 4@?D6CG2E:G6D 2C8F65 E92E E96 @?=J E9:?8 HC@?8 H:E9 DFAA=J\D:56 64@?@>:4D H2D E92E :E 925?VE 366? EC:65 J6E] x? >@C6 C646?E 52JD[ #6AF3=:42? A@=:E:42= 7:8FC6D 92G6 2C8F65 E92E E96 v~!VD C6A62E65 C6EC62E E@ E96 46?E6C :? AC6D:56?E:2= 6=64E:@?D W?@>:?2E:?8 $6?] #@36CE s@=6 :? `hhe @C 7@C>6C v@G] |:EE #@>?6J :? a_`aX 925 H@? E96 A2CEJ ?@E9:?8 3FE 56762E]k^Am
kAm~7E6? DF49 2C8F>6?ED 92G6 366? ?@ >@C6 C6D@?2?E E92? E96 3=62ED 7C@> 24256>:4 D@4:2=:DED 2?5 4@>>F?:DED E92E AFC6 |2CI:D> 92D J6E E@ 36 2EE6>AE65 2?5 E92E E96:C 42FD6 92D 366? 36D>:C4965 3J =6256CD =:<6 {6?:? 2?5 $E2=:?[ H9@ H2CA65 2 AC64:@FD AC:?4:A=6 2?5 H6C6 EJC2?ED 2?5 ?@E :56@=@8F6D]k^Am
kAm— (96? 5@6D DE2?5:?8 7@C @?6 AC:?4:A=6 G:@=2E6 @E96C AC:?4:A=6Dnk^Am
kAmuC@> E96 #6AF3=:42? G:6HA@:?E[ E96 D9@H5@H? E92E 8C:AA65 E96 r2A:E@= A:E @?6 H:56=J 96=5 AC:?4:A=6 W2?E28@?:D> E@H2C5 ~32>242C6X 282:?DE 2?@E96C @?6 W7:?2?4:2= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJX] x? 42D6D =:<6 E9:D[ =2H>2<6CD 92G6 E@ H6:89 ?@E @?=J E96 >@C2= G2=F6 @7 @?6 282:?DE E96 @E96C[ 3FE 2=D@ E96 AC24E:42= 4@?D6BF6?46D @7 @?6 282:?DE E96 @E96C]k^Am
kAmx? E96 >:?5D @7 >2:?DEC62> #6AF3=:42?D[ E96 E62 A2CE:6CD >256 E96 HC@?8 49@:46] qFE :? E96 >:?5D @7 E96 C636=D[ E96J >256 E96 C:89E 49@:46[ 42=4F=2E:?8 E92E E96 D6?D6 @7 7:?2?4:2= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ @7 E96:C C:G2=D H@F=5 >2<6 E96> 7@=5]k^Am
kAm%96D6 C636=D H6C6?VE E96 @?=J @?6D A=2J:?8 E92E 82>6[ 9@H6G6C] %96 s6>@4C2ED >256 E96 D2>6 42=4F=2E:@?[ 4@?G:?4:?8 E96>D6=G6D E92E E96 A2CEJ @7 3FD:?6DD H@F=5 36?5 E@ 3FD:?6DD G2=F6D[ 2==@H:?8 E96> E@ <66A ~32>242C6 7C66 7C@> 76EE6CD] ~7 DF49 42=4F=2E:@?D 2C6 4C:D6D >256]k^Am
kAm— (96? 5@ H6 AC:K6 DE66=J 56E6C>:?2E:@? 2?5 H96? 5@ H6 4@?56>? :Enk^Am
kAm%92E D@F?5D =:<6 2 92C5 @?6[ 3FE :EVD C62==J 62DJ[ H9:49 :D H9J E96 4@F?ECJ 72465 DF49 2 E9C62E E9:D >@?E9] (6 AC:K6 DE66=J 56E6C>:?2E:@? H96? H6 =:<6 2 42FD6 W:?E68C2E:@? :D 2 8@@5 6I2>A=6X 2?5 H6 4@?56>? :E H96? H6 C6G:=6 2 42FD6 WD68C682E:@?[ 7@C :?DE2?46X]k^Am
kAm— (96? 5@6D 2 =6256CVD C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ C6DE H:E9 6IAC6DD:?8 E96 H:== @7 9:D 7@==@H6CD 2?5 H96? 5@6D :E C6DE H:E9 D6CG:?8 2 8C62E6C 8@@5n p?5 5@6D 2 =6256C 92G6 E96 C:89E[ @C C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ E@ 5:D46C? 2 8C62E6C 8@@5nk^Am
kAm(6=4@>6 E@ y@9? q@69?6CVD H@C=5 — 2?5 E@ E96 AC:D@? @7 9:D A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAmuC@> E96 368:??:?8 96 <?6H H92E 9:D 4@?D6CG2E:G6 H:?8 H2?E65[ 2?5 96 <?6H E92E 7:?2?4:2= 5672F=E H2D 2 A@=:E:42=[ 7:?2?4:2= 2?5 >@C2= 5:D2DE6C] x7 96 5:5 ?@E <?@H :E 2E E96 368:??:?8[ 96 DFC6=J <?6H 2 H66< :?E@ E96 DECF88=6 E92E E96C6 H2D =:EE=6 =:<6=:9@@5 @7 C64@?4:=:?8 H92E D@>6 @7 9:D DFAA@CE6CD H2?E65 2?5 H92E E96 ?2E:@? ?66565]k^Am
kAmq@69?6C <?6H E92E 9:D H2D 2 4@?F?5CF> 7@C E96 286D[ 2 49@:46[ =:<6 D@ >F49 6=D6 :? E9:D 6A:D@56[ 36EH66? 4@>A6E:?8 A6CDA64E:G6D — 2?5 2 E6DE 42D6 :? @?6 @7 E96 92C56DE 564:D:@?D :? =:76[ 2?5 :? A@=:E:4Di H96? E@ 7:89E @? AC:?4:A=6 2?5 H96? E@ BF:E :? AC:?4:A=6]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
kAm k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.