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Health & Fitness

Republicans Almost Close Cochran Shoals National Park

Tuesday morning saw “Closed Because Of Government Shutdown” signs on the entrances to Cochran Shoals National Park next to the Chattahoochee River. The signs slowed down but did not stop use of the park. There were no mom’s pushing baby carriages, fewer runners than usual, and only a couple people walking their dogs.

 

There was no offsite parking on the I-285 side of the park and only about a half dozen cars parked outside the park gates on the Columns Drive side. But there were many more people than that in and around the park. Where did they come from?

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People were parking on Powers Ferry and riding their bikes to the park. They were walking in on the trails behind the office buildings, apartments, homes, and condos next to Powers Ferry Road. They were walking or running from apartments, condos, and homes on Columns Drive. The “Closed” signs on the gates didn’t keep a surprisingly large number of people from using their National Park.

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Credit has to go to the Republicans. They have been saying for years that they would close down government, if they had a chance. Republicans have said it on the radio, on television, and in front of cheering supporters. U-tube has it documented. They tried to shut down the government six times in the last couple of years and actually did it on the seventh try. They did it back in the 1990’s, so their current threats were taken seriously by regular park users.  A number of runners, walkers, and bikers were ready with a plan B, when the Tea Party got its way. Even Larry Savage, former conservative Republican primary candidate for county commissioner, was jogging in the park.

 

With this repeated history of making promises to shut down government, and then doing it after many attempts, why are Republicans saying, “No, it wasn’t us. It was the Democrats. The Democrats shut down government.” Aren’t Republicans proud of the only trick they know? It isn’t like they passed a single piece of major legislation since they took over the house in 2010. All they have done is vote every couple of weeks to de-fund Obamacare (over 40 times) and then go on FOX and say how they will close down government.

 

Republicans love to talk about Armageddon and End Times and how close they are. In a few weeks we’ll see if Republicans will live up to their promise to sink the American and world economy, by refusing to increase the debt ceiling. There is no Plan B for that by runners at the park or anyone else. Republicans lived up to their promises to shut down government, ending civilization as we know it, is next on their “to-do” list. 

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