There is plenty of blame to go around about the shutdown of the federal government, but the fact is, the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land. Like it or not, it passed in 2010 when the Democrats were in the majority of the Senate and the House of Representatives and held the presidency.

The act even has weathered the courts systems, with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling in its favor.

To this day, some Republicans — not all — want to do whatever they can to repeal it, and that includes shutting down the government if they don’t get what they want.

In no uncertain terms, they have made it clear that they refuse to vote in favor of anything — a “lights on” bill to end a shutdown or a bill to increase the debt ceiling that would prevent a government default — unless Obamacare is thrown out.

House Speaker John Boehner has countered by saying if the president would negotiate to fix flaws in Obamacare, the shutdown could end.

And for whatever reason, Tea Party Republicans have it in their head that everything about Obamacare is wrong, that it is just that black and white.

But here’s the deal: Republicans lost the election in 2008 and did not hold the House majority from 2009 to 2011. Don’t want legislation like Obamacare? Don’t lose the elections.

They regained the majority in 2012, but they still do not hold the Senate or White House. They have greater power than in 2010, for sure, but not enough to repeal Obamacare. The attempts to repeal, defund or rework the Affordable Care Act at this point seem like sour grapes.

Elections are how politics works. You want to get your way? Win elections. Win a lot of them.

Few understand all that the Affordable Care Act encompasses. Yes, everyone will get coverage (whether they like it or not) and those with pre-existing conditions will be able to get health insurance.

It certainly isn’t making health care more affordable, as some insurance premiums will be increasing significantly due to the legislation. Whether that is due to real costs, or because Obamacare gives health insurance companies an excuse to gouge customers, who knows?

It’s unclear if it will work to cut health care costs, but it’s time to move on. Let the legislation, with all of its potential flaws, go to work for a while. If it fails, then change it. But give us all a break with this sanctimonious act.