In the aftermath of the partial government shutdown and crises over increasing the debt ceiling, it is quite clear the big losers were the American people.

Once again, our brave President and Congress decided to kick the can down the road and live to spend another day. This will all to be played out again in January and February. Of course, it will be election year and Democrats are banking on Republicans once again folding tent afraid of not being re-elected.

It is good strategy for the moneychangers and bad strategy for the long-term health of America and its hard working 47 percent who pay federal income taxes.

We may have the worst representative government in our history presently serving, but we do have the best can kickers money can buy.

The recent confrontation of the majority Republican House with the majority Democrat Senate and Democrat White House resulted in nothing being accomplished, but a delay in doing nothing. It did bring on a war of words and behavior that would have made a kindergarten fight over a swing look adult.

It is difficult to believe a body of men and women can act so juvenile, but this group has no problem at all doing it.

The polltakers had a field day with it, as well as the late night brainless comedians. Congress hit an all time low in the polls and so did the president. The approval rating of Congress was single digits with some calling for the removal of all during the next election.

Members of Congress found themselves looking up to see the bottom of the barrel during and after the shenanigan. The president didn’t do much better coming in just barely over the mid-30s, having about the same numbers as George Bush after the Iraq invasion went sour.

We have a basket full of things to be thankful for in this country, but Congress and the president aren’t in the basket.

What I find deplorable about the partial shutdown is the barricading of public war memorials in Washington D.C. strictly for political purposes. These are open air, walk-through memorials that require little or no attendance by the National Park Service, yet they were ordered barricaded by the Obama Administration.

It required more personnel to erect the barricades than it did to monitor the memorials.

“[I]f the citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted. … If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws.” — Noah Webster, History of the United States.

Politicians once in office try to homestead and remain there until past senility. Someone once said, “The reason politicians try so hard to get re-elected is that they would ‘hate’ to have to make a living under the laws they’ve passed.” There is probably more truth than fiction in that statement.