The republican shut down the government because President Obama would not sign a budget. There has to be a plan to reduce the national debt. If you think the national debt is a scare tactic. Ask other countries that let there debt get to high or states in our own country that cannot meet there obligations. The debt must be reduced the budget must be balanced and there needs to be a constitutional amendment for a balanced budget. If you read history most of those that wrote the constitution and approved it from the beginning regretted not putting the balanced budget in it. Being responsible for spending is has simple as "don't spend what you don't have".