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Editorial: Shutdown inexcusable; so are some protest antics

Sat., April 9, 2011

The federal government is headed for a shutdown. Members of Congress are talking past each other. State legislatures are slashing services. Political parties are drifting farther apart. Fewer leaders are willing to compromise.

Frustrating? Absolutely, but there are better ways to respond than have been demonstrated this week.

On Thursday, a group of Service Employees International Union members marched around the state Capitol campus protesting health care cuts. Another group was allowed to spend the night on the floor of the Capitol rotunda. Thousands of union members have descended upon Olympia this week to stage peaceful rallies. This is all within the bounds of reasoned political activity.

But then 16 of the SEIU protesters were detained and cited when they tried to push their way into the governor’s office. Another protester was arrested for allegedly attacking state troopers. That’s going too far. Politicians have legitimate security concerns that need to be respected, especially in the aftermath of the Arizona shooting that claimed six lives and included U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords among the injured.

While we support the right to protest, the simplicity of some of the messages must raise the frustration levels of lawmakers, too. This is the third consecutive session where lawmakers have had to make painful cuts. It’s been no secret that this was going to occur again. In large part, those choices were forced when the economy tanked in 2008 and has struggled to recover ever since. The pain has been spread far and wide.

Labor organizations want lawmakers to increase revenue, but the majority of voters spoke clearly about that. Plus, voters have tied legislators’ hands by approving a series of initiatives – some wise, some not. So it’s not as if the people are being ignored.

This might be difficult to understand for anyone with a limited grasp of the daunting budgetary challenge. Nobody likes waste, fraud and abuse, and government should always try to limit that. But when 71 percent of respondents to a survey say the state budget could be balanced that simply, then our sympathies shift to the budget cutters.

That’s not to say politicians should be let off the hook. There is no excuse for the looming federal government shutdown. As members of both parties march to the microphones to deliver their poll-tested phrases, it’s clear that the real battle isn’t over averting a shutdown; it’s about benefiting from it. It’s insulting to any informed citizen to watch these “leaders” pretend to debate each other as they carry out theatrics that are rehearsed in the privacy of their caucuses.

Citizens can combat this nonsense two ways. First, become informed and engaged well before the finish line. Politicians will shelve the shenanigans when facing a discerning audience. Second, clamor for open government. Important decisions are being made behind the scenes, even as the charade of “honest” debate goes on. Demand that these key moments occur in public.

Democracy will always be messy and those who parachute in and out will always be ineffectual. Civic engagement is a year-round chore. There is no way around it.