Cross Roads Podcast
Cross Roads Podcast
Steven and Mady Bring You the Truth - Why the Government Has Shut Down
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Government pauses; life doesn’t. We open the mic on the shutdown standoff and follow the impact from Capitol Hill straight to kitchen tables: furloughed paychecks, closed parks, longer TSA lines, and the hidden costs that ripple through small towns and local businesses. With clear, no-spin commentary, we trace the last fifteen years of policy swings—health care mandates, stimulus bets, banking rules, tax reform, energy shifts—and explain how those choices keep setting the stage for last-minute funding brinkmanship.
Instead of playing team sports, we get specific. What do Democrats want right now, and what do Republicans refuse to move on? Where did spending deliver value, and where did it pile on debt without results? We talk inflation, interest costs, community banks, hiring incentives, and energy independence, always asking one thing: what works per taxpayer dollar. You’ll hear how shutdowns happen when leaders tie big policy to must-pass bills, how “regular order” could lower the temperature, and how better measurement—outcomes per dollar, not slogans—can create room to compromise.
We also keep it local. From upcoming town events to holiday bookings with Santa Stephen, we spotlight the community heartbeat that keeps families connected while Washington stalls. Expect practical takeaways: build a small buffer if your income touches federal flows, diversify where you can, and stay close to reliable local information. Most of all, use your voice. Pay attention, show up, and vote with a mandate for on-time budgets and measurable results. If this conversation helps, hit follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—what’s the one thing you’d fix in the budget first?
Order your copy today of "Achieve Optimal Brain Health with Nutrition," by Stefan Mcdermott.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYWMB929
www.stefanmcdermott.com
Would you like Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus to come to your home, or office? Contact The Santa Steven at Steven@theSantaSteven.com or call 469-230-5956 for more information.
Good morning, crossroads. Welcome back to Stephen and Maddie Bring You the Truth. I'm your host, Stephen.
Mady:And I'm Maddie, your co-host, truth checker, and occasional provider of sarcastic commentary.
Steven:Yes, and today we're diving into the big one, the government shutdown. Why is it happening? And who's responsible and what it means for you and me? Spoiler alert, it's not because Congress ran out of free coffee. Although.
Mady:Although, to be fair, that might actually get them moving faster.
Steven:Yeah. So here's the nutshell. The government is shut down because Democrats and Republicans can't agree on policy changes. Think of it as two toddlers fighting over who gets the bigger cookie. Neither one will budge, so the cookie crumbles, and the rest of us are left up sweeping up the crumbs.
Mady:Exactly. Democrats want to expand funding for climate initiatives, student debt forgiveness, and health care for illegals. Republicans want tighter budgets, border security, and to cut down on spending.
Steven:It's a classic standoff. You move first. And while they wait, federal workers get furloughed, national parks close, and TS line TSA lines get longer than a Black Friday checkout line.
Mady:Meanwhile, federal workers are wondering if their paychecks are coming and parks are closing. You know it's serious when even the squirrels are out of work. Yeah.
Steven:Okay. So let's rewind the past 15 years. Democrats have championed policies that, while well meaning, have cost taxpayers big and frankly hurt the economy, ballooning national debt and regulatory red tape that strangled small businesses. We'll talk about the Affordable Care Act of 2010, expanded health care access, but it also hit small businesses with heavy coverage mandates. Premiums rose, and many companies cut ours to avoid the employer mandate. Then there was the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion stimulus bill meant to kickstart the economy after the financial crisis. Some of it helped, but a lot of taxpayer dollars went to shovel-ready projects that weren't so ready. And green energy companies like Celandra went bankrupt. Then there was the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, added heavy regulations on banks, meant to stop another financial collapse, but ended up making it harder for small community banks and local lenders to survive. And then, of course, Sleepy Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan of 2021. Nearly two trillion dollars in new spending, much of it borrowed. Critics say it overheated the economy and contributed to the highest inflation in 40 years.
Mady:And don't forget student loan forgiveness. Biden announced hundreds of billions to cancel loans. Sounds great. If you've got student debt, but the money doesn't vanish, it gets shifted onto taxpayers who never took out those loans. When you had the green energy subsidies that poured billions into companies that didn't survive, while uh traditional energy got hamstrung. And you know, you had student loans, and we had to pay each dime, and the way we had to pay it with the interest, I think we paid your loans like three three times more than what you had. So uh uh no student uh loan forgiveness for anybody.
Steven:Exactly. I mean it's like like me promising to pay your credit card bill with Maddie's bank account.
Mady:Oh no, sorry, that's a hard no, Stephen.
Steven:Yeah. Now let's compare that with what Republicans have done. So you have the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which reduced corporate tax rates from 35% to 21%, businesses expanded, unemployment hit record lows, and wages rose. Energy independence policies from 2017 to 2019 rolled back restrictions on oil and gas, making the U.S. a net exporter of energy for the first time in decades. Gas was cheaper, America relied less on foreign oil, and then repealing regulations. Republicans pushed back on the Dodd-Frank rules of 2018, easing pressure on community banks and opening up credit again for small businesses. Balanced budget pushes. While not always successful, Republicans consistently demanded spending caps and tried to attach them to debt ceiling increases.
Mady:In other words, Democrats spent like kids in a candy store, and Republicans showed up with a dental bill.
Steven:Yeah, yeah. That's one way to put it. Republicans aren't perfect, but they're generally the ones trying to clean up the financial mess left after big Democratic spending sprees. All the time. And this has historically gone on and on and on ever since I was a kid. I remember the Johnson years. And I remember when Jimmy Carter was in. Every time a Democrat has been president, our economy has tanked. It's history doesn't lie, people. And all you have to do is look back. So I think Americans have woken up now and they've seen the truth. So hopefully we'll get this fixed. Definitely. So here we are. Democrats say we need more funding for social programs and climate change. Republicans say, not until we cut spending and secure the border. Neither side will blink.
Mady:Which means government services pause, workers get furloughed, and Americans shake their heads wondering why Washington can't do what every family in America has to do. Balance a budget. Why don't they put our interests first in front of what they want? It's not making any sense. Put like Trump is putting first.
Steven:Yeah, exactly. If I ran my household budget like Congress runs a federal budget, Maddie, uh, we'd be living under a bridge with Wi-Fi.
Mady:Yeah, right. As long as the Wi-Fi works, we'll still podcast.
Steven:Yeah. So here's the bottom line. Shutdowns happen because leaders won't compromise. Both sides. They're both equally bad and guilty at this time. Yes. I I'm sick and tired of playing the blame game. Look, Republicans and Democrats alike, they need to shut up, buck up, and fix the mess that they've both created. And do the work that we got them elected for. Yep. And over the last 15 years, Democrats push spending and expansion. Republicans have often stepped in with tax relief, deregulation, and spending caps to recover.
Mady:But while they fight, it's the regular people, the ones listening right now, people like us who deal with the fallout, missed paychecks, stalled services, and oh God, a lot of frustration.
Steven:Yep. That's why paying attention matters. Watch what they're doing with your money. Get involved and remember to vote.
Mady:Yes, well said, Steven. Uh the Americans have to stop taking this privilege of voting for granted. I had to wait to become a proud American citizen in 2010 to be able to vote. And I am making sure every single time that I am taking advantage of this. So please stop taking it for granted. You need to go and you need to vote because even one vote can make a difference. Okay? And speaking of paying attention, let's switch gears to some local news and announcements. Don't forget to mark your calendars for Saturday, October the 25th, for the full market in the park and crossroads from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Town Council canceled their meeting for today. Check the town calendar for all meeting and event times for crossroads so you will be up to date. Saturday, October the 11th, up in Pilot Point, Bonnie and Clyde days from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the town square. A lot of fun. If you haven't been there, just go. It's a lot of fun. Wow, just 79 more days until Christmas. Can you believe this?
Steven:No.
Mady:Hire the Santa Steven and Mrs. Claus to come over and play with the kiddos.
Steven:And now for a commercial announcement from our man from the North Pole, the Santa Stephen. He's coming soon. You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not put. I'm telling you why. Why? Santa Claus is coming to time. Gather up. He's making a list. Checking it twice. He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to time. This holiday season, bring the magic of Christmas right to your doorstep with the Santa Stephen. Imagine the joy on your child's face when Santa and Mrs. Claus step into your home for a personal visit, stories, laughters, photos, and memories to last a lifetime. Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!
Mady:And don't forget, we even bring sweet holidays cheer for parents too.
Steven:Hosting a party? Big or small, the Santa Stephen brings the holiday sparkle. From the family gatherings to corporate events, we spread joy in every setting. One-on-one with your little one or a crowd of excited children, the Santa Stephen makes every moment magical. Bring holiday spirit to your community. Parades, festivals, and tree lighting ceremonies grow brighter with the Santa Stephen. And for the sweetened surprise, your child can receive a personalized letter straight from Santa's desk, signed, sealed, and delivered with a touch of Christmas magic.
Mady:Every letter is filled with love, joy, and just the sprinkle of North Pole sparkle.
Steven:Whether it's your home, your office, your school, or your town, let the Santa Stephen make this holiday unforgettable. Ho ho ho! We'll see you this Christmas.
Mady:Because every family and every business deserves a little extra holiday magic.
Steven:The Santa Steven, where Christmas comes to life. You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pop. I'm telling you why. Santa Claus is coming to time. A big fat man with a long white beard. He's coming to town. To book an event, party, or some one on one time with the Santa Steven, call 469-230-5956 s or email steven@ thesantasteven.com. That's S T E V E N @ thesantasteven. com. And we hope you have a very wonderful holiday season. And don't forget to go to Amazon and look up for your copy, Achieve Optimal Brain Health with Nutrition by Stefan McDermott. An excellent easy to follow guideline on how to really make your brain happy. Get that book.
Mady:Yes, definitely. From upcoming town events to what's happening in our schools and businesses will keep you in the loop.
Steven:Stick around because the truth isn't just in Washington, it's right here at home too. Stay tuned in next week as we bring you more news and amazing guests. We'll see you at the top. Bye bye. Bye bye. Crossroads Podcast.
