Post Shutdown America

Against this backdrop, the US government shutdown looks a little different.

The final lesson of the shutdown is that political systems of every kind benefit from the addition of women.

But Americans are in no mood to celebrate. Indeed, the second conclusion to be drawn from the US government shutdown is the virtual disappearance of American triumphalism.

Yes, it was a clear symptom of deep political dysfunction, stemming from the politicized demarcation of electoral districts and the distorting effects of America s campaign finance system. Nonetheless, it is noteworthy that the entire crisis played out according to constitutional rules.

So buried in signage are these structures, that it often takes a moment to distinguish the modern specially constructed taxpayer from its neighbor the small commercial building from an earlier century, whose upper floors have been sealed, and whose groundfloor space now functions as a taxpayer.