I agree with you that the government shut down caused a lot of grief for the American people and ultimately solving absolutely nothing. In my opinion the government shut down is democracy at its worst. Besides avoiding a default on our national debt which would of sent our economy in a tailspin, and the loss of revenues which incurred during a time of economic recession, the shutdown merely delayed the inevitable. Our nation’s core problems cannot be solved by simply throwing in the towel, or agreeing to disagree. There has to be some give and take between the parties in order to actually accomplish anything. Unfortunately right now there seems to be too much focus of ideological differences rather than the good of the American people. While I like to think that democratic governments are the most fair and practical way to govern a country, like your post alludes to, a government who is too focused on the ideological differences between opposing parties instead of the greater good of the country is indeed a “weak government.” This statement seems to ring true at a time when our President and the congressional GOP have very little to agree on. While the system of checks and balances set in place is a great system to curtail a concentration of power or even to thwart corruption, right now it seems to be doing very little for the American people.

I push the door open. The bell tinkles, with a soft but loud ring. A wave of rubber gloves and disinfectant masked with cheap air freshener washes over me. Chairs are all cluttered in the waiting room of the dentists. Clusters of magazines lie on the scratched wood of the coffee tables, a shiny bright plastic screaming out logos and slogans. A little way forward from where I stand is a desk. A smiling receptionist sits there. She sees to have been expecting me somehow, as she indicates to the couches and chairs. A