10 things that could ruin your day if the government shuts down
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.

  • 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?

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Filed under: Budget
soundoff (2,555 Responses)
  1. bml

    First thing these wars are stupid a waste of money and life you get involved in issues that are none of your dam bussiness who made you god the last time I checked he didn't live here. who really would most of you only care about money and yourself it is suppose to be selflissness not selfishness what are you going to do when you go on to the next life and money doesn't make you powerfull america is the worst I see these people everyday struggle to survive while you sit back thinking of the next way to make your next billion know matter how many families it destroys you all make me sick your greed has gotten out of hand and it is just about time for god to send his angels and declare war on humankind but here is the difference between you and them the innocent will not
    be harmed only you who deserve it good luck with all your choices they are
    finally catching up with you so enjoy
    your money now because once its time you will all suffer.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:55 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Dana

    Perhaps they would be motivated to come to a decision if they were the ones not being paid until a decision was made.

    Common sense people.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:55 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Phil in Oregon

    A govt shutdown will trigger a selloff in stocks, pushing prices into the toilet. People who have money(like the congressmen who still get paid) get to buy stocks at drastic savings. As the rest of us limp back toward recovery, they get rich selling the stocks.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:56 pm | Report abuse |
  4. MadasHell

    This mess started when we funded two wars that we had no business getting into...It started when banks became greedy writing mortgages they had no business writing, then asking for BAILOUTS, this started when we decided that America should outsource our jobs, instead of protecting our workers, I can go on and on about the mistakes Government has made. What ever happened to learning from our mistakes. The only way to start building this economy and this country is to start keeping jobs at home. We cannot continue to fund other countries with borrowed funds from China...We have to learn to just say America is Broke...I would love to help everyone, but I know my limitations. As far as I see it this is not a Democratic mess, it is not a republican mess, it is an AMERICAN MESS and we need to work together an CLEAN THINGS UP, or GET THE HELL OUT SO SOMEONE WHO CAN WILL!!!!!

    April 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stan

      well said!

      April 8, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bob in SLC

      You make the assumption that government has made mistakes when the reality is that they are doing exactly what their masters plan for them. The multinational corporations own our politicians in every conceivable way and the choices they have made over the last 50 years that have led to our current state of affairs are directly in response to the needs of the rich who fund their political campaigns.

      What we need it to END the FED, eliminate the IRS, completely change the way money is handled in our government and remove the ability for politicians to manipulate the system.

      April 8, 2011 at 2:15 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Baronofcheese

    You're acting like a schizophrenic who forgot to take his thorazine. You do have a point, but the all caps and kook typography is just stupid.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
  6. John Galt

    These people in congress are hired by the people to do a job. They are failing, and paying themselves out in the process,, receiving the best health care, and allowing the rest of us to fall by the wasteside. It's unacceptable.
    This is the issue, not race, the president, or any other trivial comment posted below.
    The system in place isn't working, it feels corrupt, the people we hired feel corrupt...
    How can they shutdown a government and still get paid?
    How can they allow even allow this to happen?
    America isn't leading anymore.
    Maybe if we realize this, the consciousness of this country will evovle. Maybe.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Geeked Up

    2012! THE END OF THE WORLD! AH!!!!!!

    April 8, 2011 at 1:57 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Sol

    Some of you seem to have forgotten that certain ploiticians promised to "Just say no!" to everything President Obama and the Democrats would try. This includes coming up with a budget that would prevent a shutdown. I don't agree with a lot the president wants to do, but he is a lot more human and humane than the man who lied about weapons of mass destruction and wasted a trillion dollars fighting someone who had nothing to do with 9-11. If we had that trillion now, we wouldn't be in this mess.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stan

      1 trillion really wouldnt do anything for us.... might wanna look up the US deficit number

      April 8, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bob in SLC

      Ah yes the inevitable blame game – but both sides have been in majority control over the the past 15 years, they have both had the opportunity to fix things and yet they refuse. To blame it on monkey-boy Bush and his wars while claiming Obama is the humanitarian is ridiculous. To say that is to ignore the explosion in government employment, the huge expansions of every conceivable social program and the deregulation of the banks – all of these things done with bi-partisan support.

      Instead of buying into the blame game that the politicians and media use to distract us, we should focus on the problem with the political class, all politicians are to blame not one party or another. Right down to the local councilperson in your city.

      April 8, 2011 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sol

      The deficit was 1.39 trillion for 2010, I do think a trillion would do something for us. I still believe social programs are better than unneeded and unjust wars. I don't intend to vote for President Obama when he runs for re-election,, but I do respect the man. I think I'll vote for Donald trump, I like the way he says "You're Fired!"

      April 8, 2011 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Andy M

    Amidst the chaos, bickering and clash of ideas a teacher for all humanity is now emerging. He is not a religious leader, or a politician, or here to push an ideology or partisan viewpoint. He comes to speak for ALL humanity – especially those dying in hunger in a world of plenty. His name is Maitreya, and he is here to point the way into a much brighter time, where "no man lacks"....."where no two days are alike", and where the joy of brotherhood manifests in all men and women. Look for a man on TV, giving interviews, calling for justice and sharing and freedom as the ways to regain stability and for nations to correctly take care of their people. No politician can save us. We must create a new world, together. One in which we value human well being above excessive corporate profits and cut-throat market mentality where a few benefit at the expense of the many. Sharing = Justice = Peace.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • szmarie

      Sorry, Andy, your basic premise is good – but what you're describing sounds an awful lot like the way the anit-Christ is supposed to show up. I'd be wary of such an individual.

      April 8, 2011 at 4:17 pm | Report abuse |
  10. zeva

    When will voters realize that the Republicans never act in the public interest? In their eyes we are all non-essential, except for the corporations who bought them. This isn't the first time they have pulled this stunt (or even the second) and never have they shown the slightest concern for the workers, elderly, uninsured, or their families, who are victimized by the shutdown. All they care about is beating the opposition.

    April 8, 2011 at 1:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stan

      except that everything they are doing is to protect those exact people from the socialistic policies that are going to starve them to death.

      April 8, 2011 at 2:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • szmarie

      Hey, Stan – as things stand, if the shutdown occurs, a lot of those people the Republican'ts are supposedly trying to protect may get a head start on that starving business.

      April 8, 2011 at 4:20 pm | Report abuse |
  11. jeff

    This is bs. Im in the military and me not getting paid is a big deal. Im not deployed but if i was and my family could not get a paycheck i would be livid. And all the chowhalls on base will be closed so how r we supposed to eat? We have to go off base and spend more of our money instead of the government providing us with the essentials we were supposed to be provided. I would love to see one of these lawmakers go one month on my paycheck and then see how they do without it. But alas this is not the case. While i will be trying to figure out how to pay for food and bills these lawmakers will be driving there mercedes and eating their fine cuisine while they wonder how they can make it look like they are the heroes fighting for the people on this and so they can go on tv and show their potential voters they care when really they are to stubborn to argree to anything the other side of the arguement has to offer because their afraid it would make them look weak. They dont care how it affects the military but they are damn sure expect us to go where they expect us to go when they expect it. For those of u who feel the need to defend these lawmakers, i pity u. I honestly dont believe they care about u any more than the rest of us. And if any of u r thinking "well if u think tht way than u should not have joined the military." I didnt do it for them. I did it for all of u. I did it so if the worst comes i can stand in front of the flames and defend the people of this country till my last dying breath. Semper Fidelis

    April 8, 2011 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Hmg

    Oh come on. This list is so petty. Grow up and quit whining.

    April 8, 2011 at 2:02 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Lee Cherry

    If you cant take of your own home, how gonna tell someone else how to take care of theirs?

    April 8, 2011 at 2:03 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Rick

    People come down on either side of this issue depending on whether they depend on the government. I don't depend on the government for my existence, therefore I don't care about a potential shutdown.

    April 8, 2011 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse |
  15. CW

    I WILL POST IN ALL CAPS TO DO MY PART! WE ARE ACTUALLY ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING YEAH!!! OK NOW LETS GO TELL EVERYONE HOW AWESOME WE ARE AND GET BACK TO WATCHING TV!! WE ARE REVOLUTIONARIES!!

    April 8, 2011 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse |
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