Stunned...

I am stunned that the Republican controlled - Tea Party influenced - House of Representatives has allowed the United States Federal Government to shut down.  But what is more disturbing is their reason: the Affordable Care Act, more commonly referred to as ObamaCare.  For reasons which I cannot even begin to comprehend, Republicans in the House and Senate as well as Republican Governors and Republican controlled State Legislatures do not believe that every citizen of this country should be able to see a doctor or fill a prescription or have a life-saving operation at prices they can actually afford.  What is even worse, yes there is something even worse, they have managed to convince some of the very people who could benefit from affordable health care that it is bad.  How can this be?  How can being able to go to a doctor, have medication and/or surgery that can save a life be wrong?
The Republicans have convinced those people that the Federal Government is forcing them to something they do not want to do and should not have to do.   One group in Florida who opposes the ACA uses the word liberty in their name.  This reminds me of the Republican led fight against a mandatory seat belt law in Massachusetts back in the late seventies/early eighties.  How dare Governor Dukakis take away peoples' rights to impale themselves on steering wheels?  And how dare President Obama take away peoples' rights to die rather than seek life-saving medical attention?