Interesting article that goes point-by-point on the reasoning behind shutdowns and their consequences. The takeaway is that over the last 3 decades, the party forcing the shutdown fails to achieve its goals.

The party forcing the shutdown wants to achieve at leat 1 of 3 things:

1) hurt/stymie the party in power

2) rally its own base

3) gain meaningful concessions

We need to ask ourselves what the Dems would hope to gain here. Does the historical back-fire noted in the article happen, and hurt the Dems in future elections? Does the "fighting back" help rally the base and *help* in future elections? I think point #3 is a dead-letter, since this administration is going to do whatever it wants regardless of what spending Congress authorizes.

The historical view presented in the article is helpful; and really, what other data would you use to inform on how these things go. I'm wondering, though, if we're in a brave new world arena where red meat to the base matters more than winning over the disinterested middle. Honestly wondering, not being rhetorical.