The government is shut down. Will we notice? Maybe. Will government employees notice, certainly. Will, the President notice? Likely not. It's not vacation season.
Here in Southern California, governments are shut down because of budget crises: bad budgets led to bankrupt counties and cities. My dad lost his job teaching literature and literacy in San Bernardino County because they didn't have enough money to keep teaching juvenile felons how to read. I suspect there was not much budget cut out of the perks and salaries of the highest officials.
We're in a dangerous time in our country. Corruption has always been present, but what has kept the US strong is our rejection of corruption as the default. But, looking at government now, corruption abounds, is assumed. People go into politics in order to make money, get rich.
That has got to change. It won't change today. I'm very happy at least some officials are taking a stand. The media won't. The Senate won't. The President certainly won't.
It's not about helping the rich get richer, it's about keeping the politicians from getting richer. It's about those Americans who are poor and don't want to stay that way. Corruption is hatred of the poor. Which is why I'm a conservative. Which is why I support taking a stand against the corruption. How many government agencies encourage a culture of corruption and entrenched political bias? Shutting them down is a first step.
But, I have a limited perspective. I'm curious if there are, if you notice, any real repercussions.
We're all Americans, we're all on the scene of this government shutdown. What do you see?
41 comments:
The media are acting like it's the end of the world.
The money corruption chain resides at the top of the democrat media conglomerate and the democrat party.
That's why the media and the democrat party are out to destroy Ted Cruz and anyone like Ted Cruz who dares to speak openly and directly to the American people with honesty.
A lot of people are showing up and being told they are not essential. It... is a pretty terrible way to run a shutdown. But, I've said this several other places in Internet-land, but I'll put it here too. The blame for the shutdown should be squarely laid on the Senate's feet. Just a reminder on the compromises offered by Republicans, which completely ignores the normal: "Give them everything they want anyway" strategy that is usually employed:
1. Starting position: Defund ACA.
2. Fine, we'll just delay it till we can figure out how to make it work right.
3. Ok, whatever. If you still won't talk, let's at least say that Congress is subject to the ACA.
4. What? You won't even give us THAT? Fine, then let's at least not raise prices on hearing aids and pacemakers.
5. Seriously, you want poor people to pay MORE for medical devices? Ok, uh, can we have a week to come up with new terms?
6. Really -- you won't even do that? I give up. Fine. You win: Shut it down.
[This also ignores the offer to delay JUST the individual mandate and a few other options. Rather, this simplifies and lays it out to show just how stubborn Reid has been.]
As for whether we'll notice: I noticed a lot of very angry people on the Metro in D.C. today. More than the usual "I hate Metro" anger.
Well stated, Paddy O.
It's not the vilified "rich" this nation needs to worry about -
It's the corrupt politicians and corrupt media at the top.
The biggest special interest of all?
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
It's a good start.
That list is a great one, as I looked on Google News (a great way to see typical, if not good, media reporting). Nearing the top we're articles about how it's absolutely, entirely, without a doubt, Republican's fault, in fact there's no one else even involved, they're arguing with themselves.
The media are going to do their best to make a list like that entirely hidden.
AprilApple said...
The media are acting like it's the end of the world.
Keep in mind when the government is funded employees are going to receive back pay for whatever time they missed. It's a hassle, but banks are reviving programs to lend to furloughed federal employees until they receive their back pay.
You have to understand government employees. The overwhelming majority are Democratic partisans, but the loud ones are the extreme activists. They know their media allies have an opportunity to move the needle a point or so if they have the right sob stories. The anger is part of the show.
Is it any wonder why democrats want to kill off private industry and absorb it until we are all government employees?
One of the great things about this world is I can get down on my knees and clasp my hands by my bedside and then God can hear my thoughts.
Is it any wonder why democrats want to kill off private industry and absorb it until we are all government employees?
There's no unemployment problem in this country, people are just pre-furloughed until the Republicans crawl into a cave and die, letting everyone get onto the government train.
I see incensed women, blaming the Tea Party, likening them to Newt Gringrich.
Paddy O - that's right. If only all republicans would vaporize. Life would be perfect and free.
Free paychecks.
Free jobs.
Free health care.
Free housing.
Free groceries.
Free video games.
Well, & really - no need to work. Americans can eat healthy snacks and watch Oprah all day.
I hope someone agrees to build a bridge or a dam for Rachel maddow.
I don't know if this is wrong or not, but the shutdown feels like an accomplishment.
Sell Hawaii to the Highest Bidder. Split California into Two States so the Flag Stays at Fifty Stars.
The accomplishment of obstinacy.
I Bet China Wouldn't Mind Buying Hawaii. Trade Off Some of That Debt.
Sell Hawaii to the Highest Bidder. Split California into Two States so the Flag Stays at Fifty Stars.
That would be like thinking rationally.
No soup for Betamax.
No Soup for Hawaii.
Hawaii has always been part of China.
It's like Tibet.
Hawaii is run by democrats and the local economy is in the shit can.
But no worries.
RH - lol.
Claimed Clina Islands:
Senkaku, Hawaii, then Long.
As of 10:30 AM Eastern Time, October 1, I'm not noticing anything personally. I do hear that they're going to make it illegal to walk on the Mall in DC, to which I say, "Good luck enforcing that!"
As the day goes on, I'll let you know if anything goes wrong.
Obama, Thomas Freedman, Paul Krugman and the ChiComs can all rule Hawaii with an iron fist.
Free everything and really pretty enviro Potemkin villages.
They speak as if all the forests are their fiefdom.
I'm pretty sure I heard on the Ken Burns documentary that the national parks belong to all Americans. I'm pretty sure he's wrong, though, and that the government owns them. Just like they own the rest of us, and all our belongings.
Nicely put, Paddy.
The more people see how well they get along without the Feds, the better.
It'll be a lot like the sequester; for average people, not much changes. For anyone related to the government, minor inconveniences of the sort the rest of us have been dealing with for over a decade, will be realized.
Look for a Chinese black lava ashtray cartel.
Let them eat pineapples.
The last time they all got back pay. It's a paid vacation. Oh the horror!
This kills me. All Federal parks are closed.
Fuck you. I'm going anyway. Who's going to stop me? Get the fuck off me, you're not working.
They speak as if all the forests are their fiefdom. Fuck that. I'm camping out, catching a fish, starting a fire, put'n it in a pan, flip'n it. And I'm BLAM EAT'N MAH FISH right here on MY property.
LOL....This kills me too.
Like you can't go camping or hiking or swimming without Dudley Do Right holding your hand. How did people ever camp or go outdoors in the past without being supervised?
Most of the Parks in this area, at least, 'close' for the season anyway. Big deal. Meaning the Park Rangers are not standing around at your beck and call, the toilets might be closed, there is snow and ice....OH MY....how can we stop that?
I LIKE the idea of a government shut down. I will show us just what departments are actually valuable, needed or operating efficiently. If you are NOT essential.....WTF are we paying you to do? Get a REAL job and quit sponging off of the taxpayer.
It isn't like this is the first time we have had a shut down. In Reagan's term, when the Dems controlled BOTH houses of Congress they shut down the government every year. BIG EFFIN' DEAL.
The local news had four results (there are more, but they listed these four):
Can't apply for social security benefits.
National parks shut down.
National museums (Smithsonian and others) shut down.
Can't be audited.
"ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US>"
That was 1991. Very simple message. How serendipitously prophetic. Didn't everyone get it?
A "Republic" of free men?
Rigghhht....
The USDA websites are "shut down", including NASS, which I do weekly make-work summaries of for my job. Apparently their webservers are operated by Conan the Barbarian-style cranks turned by galley slaves in USDA's basement, and they've furloughed Young Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The hysteria is obnoxious and serves the Democrats will to power.
It's a paid holiday for gov employees and an inconvenience to gov contractors who can console themselves that the gravy train will be back on track shortly. OMG.
But the TV sheep won't shut up about it and reflexively adopt the line that it's the Republicans' fault. All evidence to the contrary is dismissed or viewed with skolarly skepticism. [Wry smile, over the glasses gaze of condescension, "well, I suppose you could argue that" ... like even arguing the evidence is suspect.] For people who say this is a super clever ruse to take the focus off the problems of Obamacare implementation ... when was the focus ever ON the problems of Obamacare implementation? When was it ever going to be?
Well said, Paddy.
For anyone related to the government, minor inconveniences of the sort the rest of us have been dealing with for over a decade, will be realized.
I saw an interview of Dept Ag employee saying, "At some point, I'll have to figure out how to pay my mortgage." Yeah, well take the Dept Labor advice and have 3 to 6 months of income in savings before you buy a house in case you lose your job.
There are guaranteed loan programs specifically for gov employees during these terrible trying times. Because they're special.
Yea, telling me that the government won't be out in my wilderness telling me what to do is a real bummer.
So nobody is gonna bug me for my pass to be walking, or license to be fishing, or permit to have a fire or to park my car on a remote empty roadside. Yea, that's gonna be hard on me.
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