The list of collateral effects of a potential government shutdown keeps growing and people are none too pleased about it. Here are just a few of the negative impacts that could arise if Congress and the White House fail to reach an agreement on the budget (click here to view in chart form):
- The lawmakers who hold the cards will still get paid. Their staffers might be furloughed, though. That has prompted a few lawmakers to announce they'll refuse shutdown pay,but even that has elicited critiques of political posturing.
- Roughly 800,000 federal workers won't get paid because they're considered nonessential and therefore, the first to be furloughed. That includes people who work in national parks because they'll be closed, ruining countless long family road trips. And it's not just the loss of income that hurts - for many, it's being labeled dispensable when they know their jobs are anything but nonessential.
- As the shutdown looms, some political leaders are taking the opportunity to fundraise and rally their supporters. The executive director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent out an appeal asking for a minimum $5 donation saying the organization wants to raise $100,000 in the next 36 hours.
- You'll still get your Social Security checks but don't expect anyone to be around to answer your questions about benefits. The people who take questions on Social Security and Medicare questions will not be at work and most government websites will shut down or have limited functionality.
- Various agencies with the Department of Health and Human Services will operate in a patchwork fashion. The National Institutes of Health will not accept new patients or start new clinical trials. The Food and Drug Administration won't operate at full capacity but will have some inspectors on staff. As a result, all FDA inspections of food processing facilities and drug manufacturing plants will be prioritized by risk.
- Word is getting around that a government shutdown doesn't actually save taxpayers money. For one, it will cost the government money to ensure a smooth transition to a shutdown. Then there's the lost revenue from a variety of sources, from government services to gift shops in government-run attractions such as Yosemite National Park and DC's National Gallery of Art.
How would a government shutdown anger you?
I say take the income of the countries we fought that has oil. As payment for helping in bettering their countries. For now its our turn, to better ours. Plus we'll be able to continue in helping in making theirs better as well. Its about survival people. We need those ends. Screw what people think. We should do it anyway.
As far as for the troops, if they are going to make that cut i believe they should leave the troops that are overseas out of it. If the Marine or Soldier is home, then fair game. Lesser of two evils.
"Fair game"? Really? Why don't YOU give up YOUR pay, then? I have children to feed, rent and bills to pay, and a car that requires gas- just like pretty much every other American citizen out there.
Our indigenous people understood that honor is the highest value.Without honor everything is BS.We are not free.They knew freedom. No fences. No one owned property.To give was respected,not how much can I get.Until we figure this out and learn how to put our planet first it will just get worse.What good will all the ceo's money do when there is no food or water or air to breath. We need to follow leaders who lead by example.No one should be homeless,hungry or wihtout healthcare.Good luck America it is really quite simple.
we elect Them to do a job , If hey can not do the job , send them home . put people in there that can do a job .
I think it's sad that the ones who will get paid are the ones who send us to war but those of us that make that sacrifice won't be getting paid
Obama is a figurehead. If people haven't realized that so far then you need to take a PL SC 001 course. It is the first piece of information you learn.
"Cut the Politicians salaries"
"Keep Federal Funding"
"Pay the soldiers!"
Do you really think he actually HAS the power to do any of these things or even more?? If he walked into the House of Congress and said "Your salaries have been cut until further notice, and here is the new budget which will get us well on our way back to normal before I am up for re-election" he would be ASSASSINATED the very next day or IMPEACHED for violating THEIR power to undo EVERYTHING he might be able to do.
the people were originally Democrats, corporate minded individuals more interested in other values with Republicans. Somehow, that definition changed and people are confused. The point is, the NAMES DON'T MATTER. They are simply an effort identify, label, and immediately slander a group of peoples ideals through political argument and propaganda; All the while, the group with their finger pointed is guilty of hipocrisy in terms of their own agenda.
Sure, money-minded individuals have the knowledge of how to budget etc. That's why Obama elected CEO's of Chase, SallieMae etc to help in Washington. Problem is, they are interested in keeping their money, and gaining more of it selfishly.
People forget so easily (or aren't aware) that switching from side to side allows one to see the inner-workings of Gov't, how to counteract and gain an advantage over others.
Finally: AND YES, at some point we elected these politicians. WE DID, OKAY? but promises were made that could not be kept (Obama-troops home within a year, troops home within 16mo.; Troops home...when?). For politicians, the goal of doing what's best for their re-election is MOST IMPORTANT. Do you know that, in the past, about 98.5% of the time we re-elected the SAME politicians?? Because it's easy, and they had successfully done their job of persuading you they did a good job..even when they didn't. Our interests come second or third (or fourth) before their re-election attempts.
Keep do research, keep gaining internal knowledge before you post ignorant viewpoints that make Americans seem stupid.
This is crap my husband would have to deploy without pay which means I am left with no way to pay our bills but we both still have to work. Smh they need to grow up or atleast play it so everyone is happy by Monday morning.
The biggest shame in all of this is the people who are potentially shutting down the government will continue to get paid, while the men and women fighting overseas and their families will have their checks cut in half. Maybe if their paychecks were on the line, they'd have a greater sense of urgency in passing a budget.
I don't blame the President solely for what is going on with the government. The bigger problem is Congress. Democrats and Republicans refuse to work together. I think that even if they both had the same idea, the party that did not bring the idea forward would be against it simply because the other party suggested it. I just feel that they behave very childishly. Maybe if political parties were banned and all politicians were just part of the AMERICAN party, then the differences would be forgotten and decisions could be made. If there is no other party to blame for disagreements, then the only ones they can blame is themselves.
I am tired of two parties bickering back and forth. Both need to give in a bit. If they are unable to in the time alotted, the whole damn bunch of them should be laid off while new elections are held. It would be nice if we actually had some control over our government officials.
Let's see if I got this right..... The USA has reached this point over a finger-pointing contest?
I know it is too much to ask of any government to cut out the finger-pointing, but this is proof that politics based solely on that alone gets the country nowhere. As far as I can tell, American politics over the last couple of centuries has become little more than finger-pointing. You won't find a solution from the Democrats, nor from the Republicans, and certainly not from the Tea Party (which is the epitome of finger-pointing politics these days).
It just saddens me that millions of people are going to suffer over situations that are ridiculously infantile.
And we certainly don't seem to get an answer from you. You fail to quote Charlie Rangel, who only last night admitted that the Democrats avoided the budget issue because it was (in his words) a "political football" during election season.
Your politics are clear, although your frustration is understandable. Reid wants a government shutdown because he believes that it is good for his politics; he doesn't care about this country. The fiscal year is half over and the government continued to spend; the Democrats have not come up with any detailed area for cuts...shame on them. You may not agree with Republican-proposed cuts, but at least they have stepped up with detailed areas to cut.
The Democrats woefully lack leadership and ideas; they have successfully claimed the honor of being "...The Party of 'No'...".
Kevin – Your politics are clear as well. You blame the dems, but do you believe Bohner has the interests of the country in mind when he injects abortion and air pollution regulation into a budget bill at the 11th hour? Please.
i just saw my LES statement (pay stub) and we in the military even though we are thousands of miles from our homes and family are now working for FREE our government pay has endend and the shutdown has not even happened yet.
lol @ J – "...when he injects abortion and air pollution regulation into a budget bill at the 11th hour?"
I'm pretty sure the injections happened prior and it is hardly air pollution.
Seriously, although the shutdown of the government could inconvienience in a few ways the true travisty is that the National Weather Service (who hasn't been accurate.... ever!) will remain in service but our military boys and girls won't recieve their pay. They should all be ashamed for not fulfilling their promise to REPRESENT THE PEOPLE NOT THEMSELVES!!! Screww placing blame. Fix the D@MN problem and cut government! Too many chiefs, not enough indians...
Kevin,
Your comment just goes back to finger pointing.
Granted, the Dems have not come up with a any ideas to fix the problem. However, the plan put forth by the Republicans is far too impractical not to mention dangerous as it would create more problems in the future than it would solve.
Unfortunately, even the proposal to extend everything by a week with and fund the Pentagon for the rest of the year is political manuvering because it then takes the sacred cow of the military off the table, and never allowing tax increases severly limits what can actually be done.
Here is an idea. How about a 10% cut in budget across the board. Then noone is happy, but it gets the job done. Lets face it though, noone is going to be happy about this in the end anyway.
If the Yosimite giftshop closes I suppose the losses in revenue will set the ball in motion that will eventually destroy the fabric of time.
OMFG, people reading the article above and leaving it feeling fear are the reason this planet is at war.
Finger pointing is exactly what is gonig on. If these children would just do their jobs and stop bickering then we would not have to go through a shutdown. If they don't do their job then they should not get paid. So called "NO WORK= NO PAY" ...how is it that they are getting NO WORK=PAY must be nice.
But it is the working Americans who have to take the hurt.
BlahBlahBlah Left vs Right BS. Get over it people. realize you are all on the same side... The one that isn't in power... Why would congress give two s@#ts about the shutdown if they are still going to get paid? Then again I suppose they truly believe they have nothing to fear because you morons keep voting them in...
@Charlie heres the thing charlie, your not as smart as you think you are. they are non essential because the only essential workers are the ones that are at the very very basic. however there are services considered non-essential that really arent, such as trash pick-up = non essential. now thanks to government shutdown you have to keep your trash at your house until they come to a conclusion, and they never will if they are like you and resort to bickering liek little kids. also the goverment shutdown + no provision signed by congress for our military members such as myself, means we wont get paid regardless of being in the middle east or at home. so shutting down those bases has nothing to do with it, this is only a problem because congress cant make up their minds.
iIf the govt was run like a business, all the non-essential(800,000) should be fired!
The finger pointing should be in the mirror. As long as we teach our children the importance of consumerism and having the latest iphone or videogames and carry debt to support living above our means, we will elect officials that promise everything regardless of debt.
Could this be the beginning of the end of this great country? Prayers are needed as it would appear that only a miracle can solve this problem.
Millilons will be affected. But hundreds of millions (all of us) will be affected if this government cannot get its act together and BALANCE the budget. The debt is $15,000,000,000,000. That is $50,000 per person. Crazy!!!!!
I hope the Congress gets this budget thing resolved soon! I need to go to the Planned Parenthood office because I'm almost due and I want this thing inside of me not alive before it ever comes out of me! Or I'd have to try to poison it with something to abort it, would alcohol do? But even that wouldn't be sure to abort it. Does anyone know something or have any suggestions to force or make the safest abortion on your self before going in an ER? Thanks in advance!
Stop paying service men/women/families? What they need a is a touch of the 'green flu' or maybe just point the guns the other way.
The idea that the IRS is getting shut down does make me a little happy though.
I think they should all go home WITHOUT PAY AND THE WITHOUT THE STIPILATION OF RETRO-ACTIVE PAY AFTER THE SHUTDOWN. If these boneheads knew THEY wern't going to get paid they'd find a way real quick. Congress should enact a law that states the new fiscal budget for the upcoming year must be approved, WITHOUT RIDERS NOW-JUST THE BUDGET ONLY, no later than 25 September of each year OR congress and the administration does not get paid until it is enacted, WITH NO RETRO-ACTIVE PAY CATCH UP. See haw many budgets don't get passed then!!!
not gonna do cause the Olympia Snowe proposed bill
was mysteriously bundled into that bs they call a budget.
did you realize that ?
talk about the snake in the henhouse watchin the eggs ...
you are so right, the democrats need to be more forceful, they do work for the majority of us, but do not speak loud enoth, the rep[ublicans are bought out by the rich and big corps and the news media is bought out by the republicans and rich! so it is up to us to get to the real truth. and get this country back. the republicans are killing our schools our jobs and our health! remeber they are the ones that let the banks and wall street steal from us.
I AGREE 100%
I most people in congress and politics for that matter are not in their job for the pay. If they don't get paid they will be fine, however maybe people will be hurt by a shutdown because that money is feeding, clothing, and housing their family. However, I think their pay should go to the people who aren't getting paid.
We're done.
I fear for us Brad, I really do.
I am guessing they will give themselves a raise when this is all settled.
Your right Terry. It will be a pat on the back and thanks for sitting on you fat @$$.
The solution is obvious ... a 10 – 15 % cut across the board cuts each year until budget is in balance, yes including defense medicaid and social security .. and then it is up to individual managers to mitigate the impact of the cuts. And any managers who complain are not upto the requirements of the job and should be fired.
Yup – a "10- 15%" cut and of course what will happen is some poor, low level people who are just doing their jobs will join the ranks of the unemployed and unless we've become a country that lets people starve to death on the streets – that makes for fewer people paying taxes and more people needing unemployment which digs the hole we're in even deeper.. Government workers are doing a service and our budget problems were not caused by them or by you and me. It's the result of deregulation of the financial industry, lax tax laws for the wealthy and two idiotic wars that were done originally off-budget.
Lupana, you said it! John Bohner needs to get off his high horse and Obama needs to strong arm this thing until it gets finished. Abortion and ideologies should not and cannot be apart of the 1% of sticking points that are holding this thing up! It is absolutly rediculous that repubs are attaching these things to the hip of the american people. There is a time and a place for these issues to be debated. Budget talks are not the place. Dems need to take the bull by the horns and do what we put them in office for!
A budget bill should be about funding the government, leave the nonsense riders out. BTW trickle down economics is a garbage theory that most likely caused our whole financial mess. Start sticking it to the corporations for offshoring all the jobs and dodging taxes. I agree we need cuts in defense spending, the defense spending in this country is unsustainable. RAISE TAXES, CUT NEEDLESS SPENDING. Want to solve the mess with social security? Make the rich contribute more, problem solved. Dont destroy our quality of life.