I would think that that trying to pass a bill to fund the cancer treatments would count as actively trying to avoid the situation, no?

On another note, you blame Republicans for the shutdown, which is fine. I do too. But, how can you say its a'okay to make it hurt as much as possible to make Republicans look bad for it? If you're mad about how the shutdown hurts people in the first place, how can you possibly justify denying people cancer treatments, denying disability for disabled vets, etc, just to make a point and strengthen your hand politically? How is that not the height of hypocrisy? Why do you think you have any room to talk?