KINGSTON, Jamaica - There are many things to celebrate about the United States, not least its democracy. But there is a thing or two about politics that modern America might relearn from even poor countries like Jamaica, including the importance of compromise, and that democracy, while not tolerating tyranny by the majority, does not presume capitulation to the minority.
These issues are relevant in the context of the partial shutdown by the US government because its legislature, the Congress, with each House controlled by a different party, has been unable to agree on a budget for the fiscal year that began yesterday.
The crux of the issue is that the Republicans, who are the majority in the House of Representatives, are against President Barack Obama's signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act, passed three years ago, but most of whose provisions are beginning to come into force.