Why the Democrats cannot negotiate over the shutdown

It's a simple point: if Democrats make concessions to Republicans on health care, then they will set the precedent that a party that controls just one house of Congress can nullify the duly passed signature legislation of the party in power--and it can do so without making any policy concessions of its own. I don't understand how such a system can be sustainable over time.

Of course it's perfectly legitimate for Republicans to be opposed to Obamacare and to desire its repeal, but the proper method to achieve this goal is to win elections and pass a law. That is the way that Democrats got Obamacare enacted; that is the way that Republicans will have to get Obamacare repealed.

If the Republicans truly believed their own arguments--that Obamacare is a disaster--then they would do well to take steps now to increase the democratic accountability of Congress by striking a deal to abolish or reform the filibuster and return the Senate to majority rule, rather than the current practice of requiring 60 votes to get anything passed. This will make it easier for them to pass a repeal or reform of Obamacare in the coming years.

Of course, it would also make it easier for Democrats to pass legislation that strengthens Obamacare or any one of a number of scary liberal things. But that's how it should be: elections should matter. And as a liberal I would be more than willing to defend Obamacare in a fair fight at the ballot box.