Letter to the Editor: Government was not entirely shut down

Dear Editor:

We all have learned a lot about President Barak Obama during the two-week so-called government shutdown.
We’ve learned that during a government shutdown 83 percent of the government does not shut down.
We’ve learned that during the “shut-down” most people were unaware that anything was shut down.
We’ve learned that President Obama will punish the American people when he is displeased with them.
We’ve learned that President Obama had to spend money to shut down things which normally aren’t shut down during a “shut-down” in order to make sure people are aware of a “government shut-down.”
Every American stood to lose if congress could not reach common ground. People on Social Security, veterans on disability, anyone that depended on a government check were going to lose. Scare tactics; I suppose it worked, because a deal was eventually reached, but at what expense?
There were only a select few that actually benefitted from the “shut-down,” and the deal that followed.
And, everyone knows by now that a deal was reached. The debt ceiling was allowed to be raised, so the US Government could pay its bills, temporarily. Obamacare was funded at the same time. But, there is another part that very few American people know about.
Most people are unaware that when deals like this are made in Congress, a lot of “back-scratching” goes on. (You scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours).
Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Majority Leader offered Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican Minority Leader, a very sweet deal, and one that Sen. McConnell simply could not refuse.
In return for their support for the Democratic version of the bill, Sen. McConnell received an “earmark” package attached to this bill, to the tune of $2 billion dollars for one of his “pet projects” in his home state of Kentucky. Kentuckians labeled this a “Kentucky Kick-back.” The project is a dam in Kentucky that has been under construction for over 25 years, way over budget, with incompetent engineers, poor designs, etc, etc..
What a legacy he would leave if he gets this project completed which might even be named after him.
Was he bribed?
I believe Sen. McConnell sold out the American people for $2 billion dollars.
Draw your own conclusions.

Howard Barron
Daingerfield