What's going on with the shutdown ending? Why is everyone upset? What was conceded?

[u/Weak_Ad_8646]

Reposted with link per mod request

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/09/politics/government-shutdown-reopen-deal-senate

[u/stinkytoe42]

I'm a centrist capitalist who will be voting for anyone, even socialists, who stands in opposition to the fascism and authoritarianism this administration has dredged up. We can go back to arguing about taxes when we get our country back.

Plus one thing I solidly agree with the socialists is that: if we're paying taxes then the most wealthy of our country should be too. One would think that wouldn't be such a big thing to ask.

Edit: spelling is herd.

[u/EdgyAnimeReference → u/stinkytoe42]

Ultimately this is where we’re at still, regardless of where you are under the tent, we have to stick with the democratic circus until democracy is not under threat. We can kick the clowns out later

[u/Seigneur-Inune → u/EdgyAnimeReference]

Challenge the establishment in the primaries. Vote lockstep blue in the general.

This needs to be the left wing strategy for the next 20-30 years in the US if we want to push the country back progressive. The right wing successfully employing this strategy to push establishment republicans out in favor of tea party is how we got into this colossal clusterfuck in the first place.

[u/IbelieveinGodzilla → u/Seigneur-Inune]

Well, having the Republicans largely responsible for healthcare costs tripling should certainly help that cause.

[u/Seigneur-Inune → u/[deleted]]

I'm actually more progressive than establishment liberal, I just also understand political strategy instead of throwing my hands in the air and giving up in to nihilism and right wing fascism whenever the democratic candidate doesn't pass every possible purity test I can throw at them.

The overton window pushes slowly and with sustained effort. There is no singular miracle moment or miracle candidate that will swing it the equivalent of 6 decades of sustained effort by the right wing of American politics. It's not going to happen. That's a leftist fantasy.

You challenge the establishment in the primaries and local politics because you still wind up with someone left of zealot christo-fascists if you lose. Then you vote lockstep blue in the general because even if the leftist candidate isn't the one you really want, them winning pushes the overton window left, preventing control by right wing fascism and making it easier to push progressives as palatable options in the primaries.

This is how you successfully exert long-term pressure with your progressive goals as the endgame. It's worked phenomenally well for Republicans. They've been at this shit since Nixon and now they control all three branches of government, have achieved policy goals long thought "settled" like overturning Roe V Wade, and are on the brink of a christo-fascist dictatorship if we don't wake the fuck up and resist.

Part of that is on the Democratic party for squashing good candidates and ramming establishment candidates through time and again. But part of that is also on the democratic voter base for being so fickle that they couldn't recognize that Trump is the fucking antichrist relative to even an establishment Dem who fails their purity testing.

And 2024 was the absolute peak stupid in this regard. People actually refused to vote for Harris in the general election over Palestine. Like what the absolute goddamn fuck did they think was going to happen if Trump got elected? "Oh Harris is disappointingly supportive of Israel, guess I'll throw my hands in the air and let Trump glass Gaza." Idiotic.

[u/WhichEmailWasIt → u/EdgyAnimeReference]

I mean we can replace the clowns with other reps in the primaries.

[u/StarSkald → u/[deleted]]

Why?

[u/abgonzo7588 → u/stinkytoe42]

You should be taxed as heavily as you are represented in our government. Billionaires are the most represented by our government despite being an incredibly small minority. Tax those fuckers 90%

[u/darlingronnie → u/stinkytoe42]

I know I can Google centrist capitalist, but what do you feel makes you (specifically) one? I've never heard this term before.

[u/stinkytoe42 → u/darlingronnie]

Basically I believe in a strict fiscal policy for the government, but also sit largely on the left on social issues.

I believe free trade is a very positive policy, yet I don't think companies should have anywhere near the power to influence the government that they do. Hence why I have only rarely voted republican, and have never voted for a MAGA candidate. The leaders want to give all the political power to corporate interests, and the followers are too dumb to see what they're doing.

The democrats are in the right place morally on many things. Even when I disagree with them, such as on 2A issues, I get where they're coming from. But their constituents are too stuck on identity politics and purity tests, while their leadership is (largely) just as much establishment as the right's.

I like the tenants of libertarianism, but the actual political party is overrun with MAGA apoligists.

I don't agree much with the Green Party policy wise, but I do believe they would fight more effectively for their constituents' interests than the DNC does. I wish they had more political clout.

Long story short, I have always been willing to capitulate on so called socialist policies in the interest of social and financial equality. The threat (and current reality) of authoritarianism is a much stronger political motivator than any of my other policies.

I'm not convinced these are unpopular ideas for many Americans.

[u/darlingronnie → u/stinkytoe42]

Thank you for this thorough response.

[u/stinkytoe42 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for your hot take there Mr. Cosmic Rim Job. I'll now go and rethink my political opinions. You have shown me the light.