With the U.S. Government Shutdown, is the Empire No More?

Not by a long shot, but in terms of Hegemony? How many people/nations are literally laughing at the U.S. right now? It's a mockery to have the Imperial "leader" of the "free" world in disarray due to bipartisan political differences.

This is why anyone who feels strongly about either dualistic side of the U.S. system needs to check their belief systems. Two sides of the same coin shutting down the government over a heath care bill-one that mind you, does take a great step forward in providing care to those who are least likely to access/afford it, but certainly does not ensure that all people will have affordable access to health care.

That said, if you're thinking with a reformist mentality it most certainly does something positive, but for the republican party to be able to shut down the government as a result, to try and sneak a measure on the recent budget appropriations bill to strike down the health care bill, which was made law well over a year ago, is not only disgusting it's laughable.

Perhaps this is a good thing for people around the world to see that there are many, many issues "at home" where houseless people continue to go without places of shelter, folks are hungry, education is increasingly offered at bourgeois prices, the surplus of food harvested does not reach all individuals or families, and health care is at such an ideological difference that hard working people can get hurt or sick and be stuck paying bills, in debt, for the rest of their lives. The fact is "Obamacare" is not enough. Check this out for further knowledge: 

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/10/7/is_obamacare_enough_without_single_payer

although truthfully until all people that are located in the U.S. know they can get medical attention when they need it at truly "affordable" to them prices, the system will never serve the merits of justice. The U.S. puts its nose in everyone's business.

Thankfully the country is not at war with Syria-although allegations of military action in Libya and Somalia are being reported today-but maybe, just maybe a shift will take place and redirect energy to domestic issues of health across social, environmental, economic and political factions so that sustainment might be able to take place and be reached before meddling in foreign affairs across the globe. A pipe-dream it might be, but until then, with the government shut down, all eyes are on the next step.

What do you think is just?

Continued imperialism thrown in the face of every nation across the planet? Or taking care of your own at home first? Especially something as important as health?