LARRY ELDER: The Politics Of The Shutdown, Obamacare, Crime And Deportations

One more time: There is no such thing as free lunch. Government has no money. It acquires the money used to pay for things one of three ways: taxing, borrowing or printing.

Democrat senators, with three exceptions, voted against keeping the federal government fully running because they want to add back spending reduced under the so-called Big Beautiful Bill; they want to spend even more; and they want to extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies.

Democrats call Republicans “liars” for accusing Democrats of seeking government-provided health care for illegal aliens. But when asked whether she supports health care for illegal aliens, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said, “Democrats are demanding health care for everybody.”

At a 2020 Democratic presidential candidates’ debate, the moderator said, “Raise your hand if your government (health care) plan would provide coverage for undocumented immigrants.” All 10 candidates put up their hands.

As for Obamacare, Democrats designed it knowing some subsidies would expire. That way they could downplay its true cost. Their expectation was simple. If Republicans refuse to extend the subsidies, Democrats would accuse Republicans of cruelty, no matter the cost to taxpayers.

Former President Barack Obama promised Obamacare would “bend the cost curve.” But Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Jonathan Gruber, known as the father of Obamacare, said: “(Saving money) was sometimes a misleading motivator for the Affordable Care Act. The law isn’t designed to save money. It’s designed to improve health, and that’s going to cost money.”

For Democrats and many Republicans, getting government out of health care in exchange for a true, robust and competitive private sector model — resulting in lower prices, better quality and greater accessibility — is a nonstarter. Health care, after all, “is a right.”

As to crime, isn’t the No. 1 job of government to protect people and property? Soft-on-crime policies, like light sentences or reducing or eliminating jail time, results in more crime. When politicians and judges make it less likely that criminals are caught, convicted and incarcerated, criminals commit more crime. Lawbreakers may be criminal, but they are not stupid. The same cannot be said of some politicians.