Gov't Closed...anyone care?
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Judging by the Twitter activity and other social media outlets, as well as the constant news coverage of the situation, I'd say lots of people care.
Evaluating and mailing packages since 1994. I am an undercover connoisseur of customer service, a master of disguise in the aisles, and a sworn enemy of subpar experiences. I blend in, observe, and report—because excellence should never be a mystery.
Irene, what do you mean by "this is yet another first"?
@Irene_L.A. wrote:
Statue of Liberty closed, tourists will be disappointed and city will lose money. This is yet another first, comments or does anyone care?????
Although distressing and sad, this is not exactly a first. Since 1976, when the current budget and appropriations process was enacted, there have been 19 gaps in budget funding, eight of which led to federal employees being furloughed. Prior to 1990, funding gaps did not always lead to government shutdowns, but since 1990 the practice has been to shut down the government for all funding gaps.
Last time it happened it was 2013 I think and it was for a couple of weeks.
The whole point of these monuments, parks, etc., is to have it for all of the people to enjoy as a part of a shared history and heritage, treasures for us all. I will happily continue paying taxes to insure their maintenance. Privatization would compromise these spaces. And this whole thing with Trump overturning, I think, not just reducing, (my memory may be incorrect), some of those monument footprints in Utah that Obama established well, monument declaration, parks, that all drives broader economic activity longer than the depletion of mineral or mining resources by the extraction industries.
Hubby is a government employee. He heard from his boss this afternoon, who told him they're attempting to work out a deal. She told him there would be a vote tonight, but now it sounds like it won't happen until tomorrow. In the meantime he has to report in at his office to receive instructions on what to do.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
They cancelled this evening's vote... They might have a vote tomorrow midday. However, unless they basically take the House bill as is, if they actually approve something, it would have to go through the House (which as made noise about not wanting to have any sort of compromise) and then it would have to be signed by Trump.
I would be amazed if this was over before Wednesday.
I would be amazed if this was over before Wednesday.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I think most people care. Contrary to what the GOP says, Americans want good government. They value the critical services which the government is responsible for providing and the hard working rank-and-file government employees that run the ship. And they cringe when these good people, and the millions of Americans they serve, are screwed for no good reason.
@Rousseau wrote:
.... serve....
"Are you being served?" That was a funny old show! It popped into mind when I thought about service provision. How, exactly, is anyone or everyone affected by a change in the provision of certain services?
Pronoun, schmonoun. I am a female human.
In 2013, lack of funding kept the government partially shut down for 16 days. I'm hoping this shutdown won't last as long.
The post office will still be open and mail will not be delayed.
Social Security checks, unemployment pay, food stamps and Medicaid benefits will continue to be paid.
Uniformed military personnel will remain on the job but won't be paid until the shutdown ends. "Critical" Pentagon civilians will continue to work, but others will be furloughed. None will be paid until the government reopens.
"Essential services" will continue, and essential workers will remain on the job, WITHOUT PAY until the shutdown ends. Not a Federal worker, but this would put me in a very bad mood.
The post office will still be open and mail will not be delayed.
Social Security checks, unemployment pay, food stamps and Medicaid benefits will continue to be paid.
Uniformed military personnel will remain on the job but won't be paid until the shutdown ends. "Critical" Pentagon civilians will continue to work, but others will be furloughed. None will be paid until the government reopens.
"Essential services" will continue, and essential workers will remain on the job, WITHOUT PAY until the shutdown ends. Not a Federal worker, but this would put me in a very bad mood.
We (the taxpaying people) should start voting out every member of Congress that was sitting during a shutdown. A couple of cycles of that and this crap would end. They would find a way to work together. They will never do it without consequences.
Of course that will never happen because we are too partisan. We retreat and blame the other side and our elected officials are happy to help us cast the blame elsewhere.
Of course that will never happen because we are too partisan. We retreat and blame the other side and our elected officials are happy to help us cast the blame elsewhere.
We could also start coming out to vote in primary elections. Typically, primaries are dominated by the most extreme members of both political parties and, thus, only the most liberal democrat and most conservative republican on the ballot move forward, giving us a political division in our leadership that is far wider than most of the populace. This huge division makes compromise (which is necessary for a functional democracy) extremely difficult.
Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.
I thought she meant it was a first that the Statue of Liberty was closed? Wasn't the longest shut down in 95? I feel like I recall the adults watching a ton of this on the news for a 21 day shut down around the same time as the Terri Schiavo case was getting started.
MegglesKat
Primaries and also mid terms. It would really be a game changer.
@MFJohnston wrote:
We could also start coming out to vote in primary elections. Typically, primaries are dominated by the most extreme members of both political parties and, thus, only the most liberal democrat and most conservative republican on the ballot move forward, giving us a political division in our leadership that is far wider than most of the populace. This huge division makes compromise (which is necessary for a functional democracy) extremely difficult.
Last night I was talking to a retired government worker who was deemed essential last time. He joked about how annoyed he was that some of his co-workers that didn't have to come into work had a nice paid vacation, while he still had to get up and go in every day.
@roflwofl wrote:
"Essential services" will continue, and essential workers will remain on the job, WITHOUT PAY until the shutdown ends. Not a Federal worker, but this would put me in a very bad mood.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
New York voted to pay for the cost of having the Statue of Liberty opened while the government was on furlough.
@MountainCacher88 wrote:
I thought she meant it was a first that the Statue of Liberty was closed? Wasn't the longest shut down in 95? I feel like I recall the adults watching a ton of this on the news for a 21 day shut down around the same time as the Terri Schiavo case was getting started.
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
I actually voted and I voted for Hillary. However, though most votes were for Hillary, the electoral college made our votes USELESS.
@Shop-et-al wrote:
How, exactly, is anyone or everyone affected by a change in the provision of certain services?
The CDC's scientists aren't at work. People need their service to protect from disease. The EPA's enforcement bureau is not at work, people need their service to have breathable air and drinkable water. Without federal contracting officers at work, infrastructure is left to decay. The CFPB is not at work; people need their protection against predatory financial institutions. Visas for foreign visitors aren't being process, the economy, trade, and intellectual and cultural exchanges are curtailed. Maintenance and security at National Parks is suspended. The IRS is not at work, refunds will be slowed and enforcement against tax frauds has lapsed which will result in the need for higher taxes on the rest of us. The list goes on, and on, and on.
16 days to be exact. I worked for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center then. I work for NASA Headquarters now.
I care! My household is being affected. If I don't work, I don't get paid.
I had to go in today for an orderly shutdown. After I left, I went for an exercise walk on the National Mall, between the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
There were no people. There were only a few fellow exercisers, but no tourists or tour buses at the Smithsonian museums. There were no food trucks at the regular spots and no traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue. The lights at the Capitol were off and there were barricade fences around the Washington Monument.
I care! My household is being affected. If I don't work, I don't get paid.
I had to go in today for an orderly shutdown. After I left, I went for an exercise walk on the National Mall, between the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
There were no people. There were only a few fellow exercisers, but no tourists or tour buses at the Smithsonian museums. There were no food trucks at the regular spots and no traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue. The lights at the Capitol were off and there were barricade fences around the Washington Monument.
@JASFLALMT wrote:
Last time it happened it was 2013 I think and it was for a couple of weeks.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Speaking as an Environmental Engineer, the states implement the EPA regulations. Existing regulations are still enforced and mandated, but new regulations will not be made or proposed while the EPA is furloughed.
@Rousseau wrote:
The CDC's scientists aren't at work. People need their service to protect from disease. The EPA's enforcement bureau is not at work, people need their service to have breathable air and drinkable water. Without federal contracting officers at work, infrastructure is left to decay. The CFPB is not at work; people need their protection against predatory financial institutions. Visas for foreign visitors aren't being process, the economy, trade, and intellectual and cultural exchanges are curtailed. Maintenance and security at National Parks is suspended. The IRS is not at work, refunds will be slowed and enforcement against tax frauds has lapsed which will result in the need for higher taxes on the rest of us. The list goes on, and on, and on.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
To consider: Back in 1954, when the US Chamber of Commerce produced the linked video, there was no internet, youtube, etc. Does anyone remember MacDonald Carey, who narrated this animated explanation of the meaning and purpose of US tax dollars?
[www.youtube.com]
The link takes you to youtube. The comments might interest some of you. If you need search terms, the video is titled 'It's Everyone's Business', John Sutherland was the animator, and MacDonald Carey was the narrator.
Ironically, or merely coincidentally, I found this in a play list when I was looking at videos about thrift, economizing, and budgeting. Just when the old Coronet character was choosing between two appealing options, I looked at the side bar and saw 'It's Everyone's Business'. Perhaps the current government could review its financial policies and behaviors and make substantial changes......
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2018 11:19PM by Shop-et-al.
[www.youtube.com]
The link takes you to youtube. The comments might interest some of you. If you need search terms, the video is titled 'It's Everyone's Business', John Sutherland was the animator, and MacDonald Carey was the narrator.
Ironically, or merely coincidentally, I found this in a play list when I was looking at videos about thrift, economizing, and budgeting. Just when the old Coronet character was choosing between two appealing options, I looked at the side bar and saw 'It's Everyone's Business'. Perhaps the current government could review its financial policies and behaviors and make substantial changes......
Pronoun, schmonoun. I am a female human.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2018 11:19PM by Shop-et-al.
PREACH!
@spicy1 wrote:
I actually voted and I voted for Hillary. However, though most votes were for Hillary, the electoral college made our votes USELESS.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
I think we know where most forum members stand on this. It is a bit telling about our profession and the type of people who generally find this type of work satisfying and who succeed with it, that many of us have common ground in other areas (such as politics) as well. Now I don't want us to go off on a tangent here. We know where that generally goes, so let's not incite or instigate any sort of bullship political discussion, LOL.
Each gov't shutdiwn had a Rep congress
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