With Republicans and Democrats unable to reach a compromise on the federal budget for the new fiscal year, specifically about the budget for the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare, the government shut down from October 1 through October 16.

Republicans, especially members of the Tea-Party, wanted to pass a version of the budget defunding key parts of Obamacare, hoping that without funding, it will not go into effect.

Those against Obamacare feel that it is too expensive, and contributes too significantly to the national debt. Others believe that it is too intrusive on the American people, and that the American people do not want it.

During the shut down, federally funded parks and services shut down to allow for government money to be saved for more important aspects of the government, such as the military.

Many interviewed students at ERHS were in favor of Obamacare.

Sophomore Daniel Bustos said he supports Obamacare “because it provides necessary healthcare services to people who can’t afford it.”

Junior Boubacar Diallo agreed, saying, “Obamacare is good,” and that “it’s gonna help us.”

Jade Jacobs, also a junior, said she felt strongly about Obamacare, exclaiming that “Obamacare is awesome!,” because while its “just a law,” it gives “beneficial health that you need.”

While no one explicitly stated that they were against Obamacare, many students refused to be interviewed, or didn’t care about it, and some commented that they did not know.

Many students had similar opinions on the shutdown. Most were against the shutdown, regarding it as foolish.

Sophomore Katie Yangilmau said she was “against the government shutdown,” because “there are welfare programs that are … not being funded while the government is shut down.”

And Jade Jacobs said that the government shutdown is “ridiculous,” because she said she felt lawmakers should be able to make up their minds. She said she felt Congress was responsible for the government shutdown because “if you don’t have compromise, you don’t have anything.”