Blame the shutdown on citizens who prefer politicians to vanquish their opponents rather than to work for the common good

By: Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: November 10, 2025

Words: 1,083

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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By Robert B. Talisse, Vanderbilt University

The United States was founded on the idea that government exists to serve its people. To do this, government must deliver services that promote the common good. When the government shuts down, it fails to meet its fundamental purpose.

While government shutdowns are not new in the U.S., most have lasted less than a week. At 40 days, the current shutdown may well be on the way to …

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