- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/400yKUS
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
Median US home prices fell in February, ending a record streak of 131 consecutive months of year-over-year increases cnn.it/3FENiBt
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
Saudi Arabia has released US-Saudi dual national Saad Ibrahim Almadi from prison, more than a year after he was arrâ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Ig
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
A Florida jury has convicted three men in the 2018 murder of rapper XXXTentacion. cnn.it/40qikoN
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
Six people affiliated with the far-right Oath Keepers militia group were convicted of various charges related to thâ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…S4
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
President Biden issues the first veto of his presidency, rejecting a resolution to overturn an investment rule thatâ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Q8
- @cnnbrk
- Followers: 64,166,194
An American aid worker who was kidnapped in Niger more than six years ago and held hostage by terrorists has been râ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…kk
CNN POLITICS ON FACEBOOK » | CNN POLITICS ON TWITTER »
That family trip to the Grand Canyon could be in jeopardy if Congress and the White House fail to reach a budget agreement.
April 7th, 2011
07:48 PM ET
10 things that could ruin your day if the government shuts down
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.
- What happened to all that talk of helping small businesses? Many government contractors are just that. We're talking about IT firms and software companies, to name a few, who may be sent home as well.
- If the government shuts down for an extended period of time, the Department of Defense says troops, including those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, may not be paid on time. Troops are guaranteed back-pay but the pinch will be more immediate for military families at home, who may be forced to choose between food and rent if they don't know when to expect a check in the mail.
- In the District, trash pickup will be suspended in the event of a government shutdown. In response, some enterprising Facebookers have proposed a solution: "If Boehner shuts down the government I am taking my trash to his house." In addition to trash pickup, the nation's capitol stands to miss out on another cherished tradition: this weekend's Cherry Blossom Festival.
- 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.
- Numerous services administered by the federal government will come to a halt. That means no new approvals of loans by the Federal Housing Administration or the Small Business Administration; no IRS processing of paper tax returns or refunds; no issuing of regular passports or visas (emergency visas and passports will be processed). In fact, anything that requires permits probably will not be processed.
- 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.
On Twitter
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/3yToTEi
RT @Declaracion: A major #earthquake measuring at least 7.7 on the Richter scale has occurred in South Asia. 1. Remain calm. 2. Follow the…
Zach Braff says his new movie, “A Good Person,” was heavily inspired by his ex-girlfriend, actress Florence Pucnn.it/3JYS9jGfj4B
Stormy got jokes. twitter.com/StormyDaniels/…
The US will deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say
cnn.it/3JzWV5z
On Twitter
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/3yToTEi
RT @Declaracion: A major #earthquake measuring at least 7.7 on the Richter scale has occurred in South Asia. 1. Remain calm. 2. Follow the…
Zach Braff says his new movie, “A Good Person,” was heavily inspired by his ex-girlfriend, actress Florence Pucnn.it/3JYS9jGfj4B
Stormy got jokes. twitter.com/StormyDaniels/…
The US will deploy Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine faster than originally planned, defense officials say
cnn.it/3JzWV5z
@cnnbrk on Twitter
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Afghanistan, according to the United States Geological Survey cnn.it/400yKUS
Median US home prices fell in February, ending a record streak of 131 consecutive months of year-over-year increases
cnn.it/3FENiBt
Saudi Arabia has released US-Saudi dual national Saad Ibrahim Almadi from prison, more than a year after he was arrâ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…Ig
A Florida jury has convicted three men in the 2018 murder of rapper XXXTentacion. cnn.it/40qikoN
Six people affiliated with the far-right Oath Keepers militia group were convicted of various charges related to thâ€twitter.com/i/web/status/1…S4
The fact that the card holders still get paid while everyone else is Hung out to dry! Why not let them feel the pinch? Let our congress know what it feels like to have to choose between food family and shelter. Take their massive pay check and distribute funds to those who they will be taking from! I like that I read.... its like watching Larry, Curly, and Now butt heads over a cigar... or fighting in the back seat with no one driving.... imagine the outcome...
I agree. If our so called cherished lawmakers know that they will not be getting a paycheck, the goverment might be more apt to agree on a solution. I say kudos to those lawmakers who say they will not accept a paycheck during a shutdown. Let's see which of out lawmakers truly care about the American people!
YES! Well said!
So very true! I'd be far more apt to let my place of work shut down if I knew I would be getting pay for my entire "vacation". I bet you the second talk of their pay getting cut hit the table, they would agree on a budget almost instantly. Leave it to those fat cats to step all over the little mice.
Because they are high enough up on the food chain that there's no authority to "make" them give up their paycheck. That's why they still get paid.
*Who* is going to implement the change such that the cardholders don't get paid? Try convincing anybody that they have the authority to do it....and then try convincing everyone else that that person does have the authority.
You see the problem?
The only thing that slightly concerns me about that is how it will effect the few members of Congress who aren't multi-millionaires, and who may not have any influence over whether or not a deal is made. Maybe we should just do what was proposed in Wisconsin – if Boehner and Reid can't reach an agreement, they'll each be fined a certain amount for every day the government is shut down. Maybe that will convince them to each get their caucuses in line.
Dont you know who your politicians are? They dont have a "massive" paycheck from government work, all of them are already VERY rich from other things, thats how they were able to get in power in the first place since running a campaign for things like the senate is extremely expensive and requires a lot of partners in high places. They will not be feeling a pinch if they dont get paid, they have millions of dollars coming in from other sources.
So this is Bush's fault now? Number one, you're naive if you think both sides are anything but self serving. Number two, do you know how much the deficit has increased since Obama took office?
That shutdown worries me a lot less than the environmental crisis going on right now. I think we can help the financial crisis the most via John Boehner's paycheck. Senators are in the millionaire club. He won't miss his wages. I doubt that any of them would. Since he is so bent on cutting wages of the poor, I am sure he won't mind cutting out his wages completely for a while. That would save us a lot.
Disappointed? It shold be "confused" Bush didn't create the deficit. Where are you from? The national deficit began with Johnson. Hell, he was the one who signed the bill allowing social security withholdings to dump into the general fund which started the trend we are accustomed to today...hiding in the sand reying on OUR DEAR LEADER to care for us.
"No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened."
For everyone who is saying that congress won't be taking their budget cuts.. even if they did, it shouldn't matter for the next years, should it..? 27th Amendment.
Don't feel to sorry for government workers, they will just be taking a paid vacation. Of course they might not get their pay for a week or two, but they will get paid none the less. They were paid the last time the government shut down.
I also wonder why things that make money have to shut down, that makes no sense to me.
Bush created the deficit?!? Bush had a Democratic Congress that decided on spending and budget you imbecile!!!
Families will not be taking long road trip on vacations.
I'd bet if everyone in the white house, congress, etc. weren't getting paid like the "nonessential" people, they'd make that decision a lot faster and avoid the whole shutdown altogether.
You people still don't get it. Congresspersons are the wealthy; they don't live from one paycheck to the next like most Americans. Withholding their pay will only be symbolic.
The answer is for the Democrats to stop the political posturing and compromise on a budget. Holding America hostage for a few radical programs is just plain wrong!
My husband doesn't get paid every time he can't work because of cancer treatment. Disability pay only kicks in if he is off for two weeks. But what the Repubs are doing is taking well people and forcing them to spend their rainy-day money. The Dems have already compromised. "If they can do this in a green tree, imagine what they will do in a dry."
I believe that President Obama needs to include ABDULLAH THE BUTCHER in these budget meetings.
YOU are an idiot. Why is there always someone in the crowd that has nothing to say and says it anyway?
A poster named Laura hit the nail right on the head. Stat at the TOP and let those holding the cards take the first hit for the team!!! Mr Speaker? YOU will not get a check while this issue is in limbo!
Of all my possible responses, emotional or otherwise, why is an angry response the only kind you elicit? Is that the only kind you can hear, the only kind you, CNN, will allow? I strongly believe and assert that there are some very fundamental and dynamic changes going on in the USA and the world. I also believe that this democratic process called government is the best way to deal with these developments. There are some changes coming.
Ridiculous. Congress is doing more harm to us than the Islamic Terrorist movement. They're out for themselves. It must be comforting to be so out of touch with reality.
by the way we are not a democracy. Corporations rule
Last time I checked, congress didn't murder over 3,000 people...
in a way they do
Yeah, they've only authorized the killing of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.
Corporations rule because you vote for the same bimbo every election because they wear the "right" party colors. This gives your congressperson the ability to "sell" your vote because they know you will always vote for them.
Stop being the village stooge or dupe!
To the person who said that Congress didn't kill 3000 people: Yes, they will. Parole officers will not be watching people out on parole. Borders aren't going to be watched (yes, that's part of what those "non-essential" park rangers do). And you won't be able to get a passport to get out. Of course, the Repubs already have passports, and their 2nd, 3rd, etc. homes in other countries, because they have no loyalty here.
how come everytime there are problems in this so called united states of corrupt america we the people seem to
always get screwed .why should the a holes that put all of us in this position get their salaries
they sure as hell definetly don't deserve it
It's unacceptable that these politicians who've failed to negotiate and come to terms will still get paid. That's my biggest grievance.
Because we keep voting to get screwed over and over again. Why are we thinking about cutting our OWN medicare insurance, guaranteeing that most of us will be without much medical care when we get old? Why are we always against taking the super rich, and instead want to cut the benefits on public school teachers who have to work part time in the summer to make ends meet? We almost deserve this. We surely voted for it.
I meant to say TAXING the super rich. We're also against taxing mega companies that make zillions in profits, but happy to stick it to the small business people. Anyone who is middle class AND a conservative Republican is a self-hating idiot.
I agree; what I don't understand is that, in this Country "we, the people" are supposedly in charge. When I hear stuff like this, however, I am wondering if I should realize an ugly reality: we are only lemings and we are being lead over the cliff. If we, the people, have the power, how come we, the people, are mostly in agreement that these "leaders" need to take pay cuts and lead us in another direction, yet, they do not hear a single word we say. This is unbelievable.
@ Sasha – Exactly! Lemmings over a cliff! That is the perfect analogy! Everyone needs to stop and ask themselves, Am I a lemming??
@Sue, @Sasha, you guys display the epitome of idiocy. WE **ARE** in charge! Don't you remember going to the polls last November??????
If we were not in charge, there would be no polls, and you would not be able to pick up a phone and talk to your representative (or his/her department).
You would have police telling you everything you need to know to survive. Please think before you post.
BldrRepublican: At one time "We the People" were in charge. For years the majority were drinking the Kool-Aid, now some of stopped drinking the Kool-Aid and are trying to put "We the People" back in charge. Hence results of the elections over the last 2-3 years.
We the people are not in charge. Sure we can vote, but where do you find out about candidates? Advertisements paid for by billionaire companies? TV stations that are NOT left-leaning, but owned by one or two very right-wing billionaires, and which take advertisements from right-wing billionaires who won't allow any investigations into their schemes? Just think about G.E. not paying taxes; 2/3 of its profits were from overseas; they have no interest in, nor loyalty to, the United States of America. I'm tired of the Repubs saying that they are just little 'ol folks like us; they dress in flannel shirts, that's about it.
Bring the troops home. It would be a cost effective solution.
They still wouldn't get paid even at home.
Well Linda, at least tehy wouldn't be risking their lifes for nothing. If you think they should fight for free then please feel free to go to Iraq and take one of their places for ZERO pay.
Troops are not payed during shutdown 'why should deadhead lawmakers get paid . That's right they made the law.Think troops need to take action on the one's in D.C.
Who will pay for getting them home?
I agree bring home the troops!! I look at the idiots in D.C. and as myself. "This is what my husband is fighting for?"
I don't often comment on articles, but this whole topic has me rather agitated. Let it be known, I have no current or upcoming dependencies on the federal government. I suspect a government shutdown would have little, to no, effect on my daily lifestyle.
We are not pawns of gluttonous, self serving leaders. We are the enablers. We, the American people, vote for those who we end up despising so much. Maybe you didn't vote for the villain for the day, but a fellow patriot did and that's why they are in office. The public does this to themselves. Until we learn that elections don't need to be so black and white, Democrat or Republican, neoconservative or ultra-liberal, things will never change.
So what do we do to change America?
1. Educate yourselves – Don't be swindled
2. A vote cast for an unlikely candidate is not a vote thrown away
How about our off shore corporations, not paying Corporate Income Tax because their lobbyists got them a sweetheart deal to not have to pay, if they were doing business overseas, change their anti-patriotic stance (GE for example) and pay Fed. corp. tax on their overseas Net Income anyway ?? – that way, they would be encouraged to come back home and do more business here in the good ol USA. Otherwise, the Fed has to have regular tax payers pick up the loss... not fair. I think our Congress should go home w/o pay during this shutdown and try to understand what the American people, all of them, really want in their representatives. Its too bad they are all lawyers because lawyers are taught in law school to advocate for their clients – in this case, their clients are lobbyists, not the regular citizenry. If you hear otherwise on TV, its just psychobabble to persuade you to follow.. President Obama has enough on his plate. The House shoud be supporting him but we need to cut the deficity in a way that has an impact, at least a few hundred billion, not a paltry 30-40 B. That isnt even noticeable.
Most politicians are so well off that sending them home without pay is meaningless.
@Pappaden Financially it may be meaningless. But it's about what's right, which clearly seems to be subjective.
They'll just use their stash of campaign money to put out spreads of food for themselves, but they are rich to begin with; this wouldn't affect them if they didn't receive another dime in their life. They've never gone hungry. I have, while working. The dems have a better clue than the repubs, but all of them are relatively clueless. During the Great Depression (my mother and father lived through), the gov't created jobs, and the tent cities of homeless boys disappeared. They want to bring back the tent cities. Unpatriotic.
you are a retard ien. don't open your mouth unless its a respectful response. if you don't, keep it to yourself...
The fact they will not pay the military but are exspected to come to work. How can they expect us to when gas is $3.65 a gallon and we can't buy diapers or pay rent because we don't have the money. They don't pay lower enlisted enough to save money for emergencies. This little mishap is going to really hurt the people you depend on for your freedom yet allot of you could cut down on allot of things not our pay.
i know the feeling, im an E-3 i have 2 kids and a wife and i work 12 miles from my home. I have no clue how im supposed to provide for my family with no pay, or get to work for that matter. it was even hard on my meager pay. all the people in the house should be scared cause you really shouldnt back stab the people you train to fight.
Ultimately it's what the Republicans want anyway. Get rid of Federal services and jobs and move them to the states and public sector. So I say, shut it down! Let's see how that works!
It is the narrow minded social conservatives holding the budget hostage. It is no longer about dollars and cents but rather about their narrow ideological agenda. Holding the budget hostage over abortion rights is just dumb.
It has nothing to do with abortion rights. Women will still have the right to have abortions till their hearts content. The only difference is they will have to pay for their own abortion. Oh no they have to pay for their own elective procedure, the HORROR! Hey I made a mistake by watching tv too close as a kid, the governemnt needs to pay for my eye surgery so I can correct that mistake. Sounds stupid, yep, same logic can be applied to government funded abortions.
Democrats wanted Republican to pass through their health care bill with all of the nice little provisions tacked on, but Democrats don't want to accept the provisions that Republicans send through on the budget. I am so sick of the double standards of this administration. The president should be the mediator between the House and the Senate. Things don't get done when no one is willing to compromise.
Actually no fed funds go to actual abortions by law...Planned Parenthood only gets funds for contraception and cancer screenings....I should know I paid for a abortion. I now have the family I always wanted but we got to wait until we were ready not when we were 16 and would have been forced to rely on welfare to survive...instead I went to college and I pay for everything myself and pay taxes....you know...how freedom is supposed to work. BTW, I'm a man..I have no right to voice an opinion regarding abortion...woman’s body, her risk, her choice....I supported my woman's choice and thank god she had one unlike in some countries.
I don't know how many times it has to be said that Planned Parenthood does not use public funds for abortions (as that is already illegal). And your analogy is stupid anyway. What do insurance companies pay for, public or private? People fall off a ladder: you shouldn't have fixed your gutters yourself. People have heart attacks: you should not have eaten the crappy food that is all you can afford due to flat wages and inflation. You can attribute many medical treatments to personal decisions. The fact remains, this is no longer about budget. The wussy dems have already caved on those items which are not strictly based on social agenda. The baggers need to get over themselves and stop over reaching.
If the government shuts down because this group of toddlers can't get along then they will be hurting in the next election. Anyone and I do mean anyone who is responsible for not doing what they were elected to do and causes a Government shut down SHOULD NOT BE RE-ELECTED. I am including President Obama in the group.
Come on people. We voted them in and they are well compensated for their jobs. If you have a deadline at work and you know you will not be making that deadline do you think you could get your Manager to revoke another employees pay because of it? This group on Capital Hill are no better then we are. Let's hold them accountable the same way we are held accountable at our jobs. These people work for us as taxpayers and voters. If they can't complete a simple task logically and come to some unanimous decision then we have the wrong people working for us and it is time to give them the boot.
If Obama doesn't hold firm on Medicare, he does not deserve re-election. The Repubs are insisting on something absolutely unacceptable - forcing old folks to go without adequate health care. If you think vouchers are going to get you any kind of decent health coverage, you're naive. I'd rather have the gov't shut down for months then let the Repubs gut healthcare for the elderly. Us middle class people depend on medicare when we get old, and I have no idea why we think it's good to spare super rich people taxes but OK to strip the elderly of health insurance.
Amen. I completely agree.
Such an apt analogy...many people seem to forget that the people we elect to Congress do this as a Job; once they get elected they don't just disappear to Washington DC for vacation until the next election campaign! They are being paid to show up on time and, at the very Least, keep our government running. From this perspective it is Ridiculous that they are going to keep getting paid based on less-than-ideal performance reviews and an inability to complete tasks delegated to them, while their "coworkers" (the rest of the country and federal positions) are being sent home with no pay and no assurance for the near future. It's April, what have they been doing for the past 4 months that a budget STILL hasn't been agreed upon?!
They need to get rid of alot of these government run programs, gut welfare, gut medicade, stop the wars, balance the damn books... My parents taught me when i was 10.
The cuts to Medicare are unacceptable I'm 30 and rely on medicare now tremendously. I'm on a very small income. Do they realize that ppl like us that are young with children will just essentially just sit and rot. Maybe that's what they want. The world seems only to favor the rich. I can't help that I'm disabled but my family has to suffer and so do I in regards to health care. I won't even start on how upset my husband is he is in heart failure at 32 and dying slowly already! Come on you cardholders and get a grip. Next step will be martial law cuz there are quite a few that will riot protest or worse when it comes down to this ppl only look out for themselves. Way to skyrocket crime and essentially start war in your own country. Good job let's all clap for the gvmt. ( sarcasm noted here)
Only these Washington insiders would go out and ask for more money for their parties at a time like this.
What they should be doing is asking their parties to set down and find a solution to this problem.
LET'S SEE WE NEED A BABY MAKING LAW FOR CERTAIN INCOMES.TOO MANY ON WELFARE.WERE SPENDING TO MUCH ON ILLEGAL IMMRIGRANTS.WETHER ITS SOUTH OF THE BORDER .EUROPEANS.AFRICANS.CREDIT CARD CO.ARE STEALING OUT MONEY WITH HIGH INTERESTS RATES.AND OTHER CO. HAVING TO DEAL WITH HIGH INTERESTS RATES.BRING THE TROOPS HOME TO FIX OUR OWN CPUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN TAKIN FROM ILLEGALS
I am in favor of more funding for adult literacy programs. Oh and by the way, your CAPS LOCK button is STUCK! Maybe you should try not using your credit card to buy EVERYTHING from gas to a pack of gum, then you won't be robbed with high interest. A great way to generate revenue would be to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana, but I recommend that you, martin zavala, refrain from the puff puff give. Concentrate more on "FIX OUR OWN CPUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN TAKIN FROM ILLEGALS". Perhaps even define CPUNTRY for us. Or, just read a book.
illegal immigration is not the problem. illegal aliens just want to get a job and work. The sad part is those that are from latin origin become citizens and then hate on the illegals. Gay people have more rights than illegals these days yet they both are human beings.
"If Boehner shuts down the government I am taking my trash to his house."
Boehner isn't shutting down anything. It's the Senate who's responsible. All they want to do is keep spending like we have it—which we don't.
Agreed. The House has passed several long term budget solutions and the Senate has refused every single one. The Senate has even openly admitted to wanting a shutdown because it might benefit them politically. Both are being complete idiots right now but its more the Senate's fault than the House's.
On another note: Both the House and the Senate (and the Chief) need to have pay suspended during the shutdown until a budget is passed. No reason that they should live in comfort while America is freaking out.
You do understand that the Congress can still pass a bill that the Senate rejects by a 2/3 majority of the House. So ultimately
they are all to blame.
The house has done nothing of value for 4 months now. All they keep doing is putting their social agenda wet dreams wrapped in a facade that says its fiscal policy knowing all the time that it's going nowhere. The tea baggers need to get a grip. They hold a percentage of the house, 1 piece out of three involved in this process. A small minority of the population and yet they think that they have the right to dictate everything to all the other people equally elected. This country can not be allowed to be run by those that scream the loudest no matter how stupid their ideas are.
The reason for the budget deficit is the tax cuts. These tax cuts were supposed to such a huge job producer. All that has happen is a redistribution of wealth. The rich have gotten much richer while everyone else have seen their buying power collapse. It is bizarre to me that people ever thought this would work in a world economy. As a wealthy investor, you give more money I will invest where my profit margin is highest. This is not necessarily in the U.S. (in fact, it is usually in emerging markets). I am not a slave to the U.S. economy. My goal is not to grow this economy, but maximize my investments anywhere I can. For this reason, the basic premise of minimizing taxes to the wealthy to increase job growth is flawed. This is why we have a fiscal crisis. It is not only expenditures, it is revenue!
Our country is spending money we don't have. Going bankrupt. And the republicans are trying to cut the budget by 1.6% of our debt and the democrats are screaming that it's too much cutting. I don't get it. If we don't get this budget under control our government will collapse and we will have a PERMANENT government shut down!
The republicans want to get rid of as many government jobs as they can to make more room for the private corporations to move in and charge the govenment back twice the cost. Take a look at our military one of the core pieces of our government at the end of the Iraq war there was 1 us troop to 1 private contractor. Before Bush took office it was 900 troops to 1 private contractor. Follow the money where did the 2 trillion dollaras spent in Iraq go to? Private contracts.
Obviously you don't have a government job and risk being without a job come Monday morning. And I know you are not a Military person, because they not only have to accept half or no pay, but they have to continue to work and risk their lifes in a country they shouldn't have to be in to begin with. Sing your praises for the Republicans to people who want to hear it. I don't give a damn about the LawMakers or the Budget deficit. The people we elect no longer care about the People of the United States. All they care about is what is in it for them. I on the other hand and many others who have posted to this discussion care about the people and how a government shut down will affect them.
Then why are the repubs so eager to give taxes back to the filthy rich who don't need it? Even Warren Buffet has said our tax system is totally unfair to the middle class and poor, and that his secretary pays more in taxes then he does. IF we would simply raise taxes on people who can afford million dollar homes and luxury yachts, and close loopholes on corporate taxes, AND stop sending troops abroad at the drop of a hat, we would have money to provide basic services to the elderly - as it is, if the medicare cuts go through, I'll be living on the streets when I get old.
Oh yeah – I forgot – it's all pres bush's fault. It's not the fact that pres Obama has spent more money in two years than ALL the previous presidents added together. I don't care about political parties. I just want elected officials to stop bankrupting our country. If democrates were able to be leaders and cut the government spending then I would vote for them. But they won't even agree to a measly 1.6% spending cut. They are killing us!
Don't be fooled by the media hype. The military and the government workers will all get paid in full. If you are really worried about them you should be screaming for spending cuts. Because if we don't fix this now there will be an economic melt down that will effect the whole world. You need to see the world as it is – not the way you wish it was.
The Republicans are pushing their own agenda and not backing down, to the detriment of 800,000 federal workers and our military (who are being forced to work and risk their lives without pay.) Cutting funding for Medicare and Planned Parenthood is absolutely unacceptable - THAT is what the Democrats oppose, and will not allow to pass. Whose fault is it that they cannot come to an agreement? EVERYONE in Congress is to blame, NO ONE is exempt, and I personally will not vote to re-elect anyone currently in office, especially if the government shuts down on Monday. The budget should have been agreed on months ago, but instead of doing their jobs, they bickered like children and took multiple recesses. If I did my job as poorly as they have, I would not have been fired a long time ago. Their inability to do their job is affecting not only the workers & military, but the communities they live in that depend on federal workers personal spending (like D.C.) or the tourism from our National Parks. Why should they be allowed to remain in office?
Last time we had a surplus a democrat was in office!