one possible answer

So the U.S. government is shut down. How did we get here?
Well, a few years ago the Democrats in office passed a comprehensive healthcare reform, something they had been wanting to do for decades.
What they passed was really a pretty moderate bill, because that was all they COULD pass. What the left really wanted was real government healthcare. The ACA is not that. Insurance companies still exist and largely run healthcare. It IS government regulated health care and since the Republicans hate regulations, any regulations, that bothers them. They made a proposal at the time, but it was not complete healthcare reform, it was just small adjustments to the system we had.
However, there is much that is moderate or even conservative in the bill that was passed, because compromise was necessary to accomplish anything. The very mandates that the right is now screaming about IS A RIGHT WING IDEA!!!!
Now the Republicans say they want to compromise with their budget bills, BUT THE COMPROMISE ON HEALTHCARE WAS MADE IN 2009!!!!!!!!!
So that's the first ingredient.
Second, the Republicans are both indebted to and under pressure from the very fringe of their side. They are answering to a very small, but very vocal and active group. This means that this small group has a very outsize influence in our country today.
This needs to end. Now.
There is one way we can accomplish this. It won't be easy, but I think it will be easier than getting money out of politics, the other big reform that is being promoted.

We need independent redistricting commissions EVERYWHERE.
We need district lines that don't automatically favor one candidate so strongly that the average person is not heard or considered at all.
We need candidates that really want to govern, not just make their name so they can have well paying jobs for the rest of their lives. Being famous for nothing is one thing in Hollywood, it is much more sinister in Washington. Right now we have the sad spectacle of a decent, intelligent man who went to D.C. to make our country better being stymied at every turn by fame/wealth hogs who only want to satisfy themselves and don't care how much of a mess they make - like all hogs.

Anyway, that's the answer I see.