This Shutdown Is as Pointless as All the Others

With funding expired, new appropriations bills stalled and progress on a stopgap nonexistent, Congress has for the 15th time since 1981 allowed the federal government to shut its doors. Don’t expect this round to be any more edifying than the others.

Republicans want to extend current spending levels until November, as a bill passed by the House on Sept. 19 would do. To lend their support to a similar measure in the Senate, and thus overcome a filibuster, Democrats have issued a list of policy demands (on health care and much else), on which Republicans have so far refused to compromise.