"Elections have consequences"

Some are fond of saying that “elections have consequences”, but this cuts both ways. Elections gave us Obamacare, but they also gave us a Republican House. The Republicans are doing exactly what they were voted in office to do, because they were elected as a response to Obamacare. They ARE doing their job: their job is not to represent the federal government, but to represent the interests and concerns of their constituents; their job is not to serve the administration and fund laws, but to ensure that the laws serve (and not harm) those they were sent to Washington to represent.

This "shutdown" is not the result of a few fringe Republicans hijacking the House, but of an American public divided on the purpose and scope of government. Our government is the product of the culture, so that any divisions in that government merely reflect those in the culture. A President of any leadership ability or self-awareness would have recognized this fact and rather than dismiss and villainize his political opponents (and along with them, every American they represent), would instead reopen debate and let rational persuasion – not edict – rule the day.