George Will on Fentanyl Crisis, Government Shutdowns, and Intelligence Failures

Fentanyl Crisis and Personal Responsibility

• 💡 George Will argues that Americans are poisoning themselves with fentanyl, rather than being forced by narco-terrorists.
• 🎯 He emphasizes that no one is holding a gun to an American's head to take the drug, highlighting personal agency.

Dangers of Confusing Crime with War

• ⚠️ Confusing crime with war is a dangerous slippery slope, according to Will.
• 🔍 He questions the reliability of intelligence used to identify targets, citing historical failures like the Iraq WMDs, Pearl Harbor, and the Tet Offensive.
• ⚖️ Killing is final, and decisions to do so should be made with extreme certainty, which he believes is often lacking.

Government Shutdown and SNAP Program

• 📉 The potential government shutdown is discussed, with a focus on the impact on programs like SNAP (food stamps).
• 📌 A congresswoman's assertion that the president could fund SNAP through November is highlighted, suggesting an intentional choice to cause hardship.
• 😟 The optics of millions, including mothers, children, and seniors, potentially going hungry are described as terrible.
• 📊 This situation is seen as a major program with significant implications, likely to produce negative public perception.

Political Stalemate and Solutions

• 🚧 Both sides of the political aisle are described as dug in, with no immediate signs of resolution on the shutdown.
• 🧀 The idea of a "Swiss cheese shutdown," where funding is selectively provided, is mentioned as a way the shutdown could become more partial.
• ⚖️ Such selective funding would involve the government making popular choices for beneficiaries but unpopular for the general population, leading to awkwardness.
• 💡 A "modest proposal" suggests a constitutional amendment to make members of Congress ineligible for re-election if they shut down the government, aiming to prevent future shutdowns.