Government Shutdown

So, at 12am Saturday morning, there is talk of a full Government Shutdown.

What does this mean, and how does this effect everyone? I will explain. I am copypasting this from Yahoo News since they are somewhat easier to understand than other news affiliates.

[url]http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/whatgovernmentshutdownmeansyou36386[/url]

"The ongoing standoff in Washington over the federal budget is now less than three days away from its deadline, with Republicans and Democrats still locked in disagreement in the House of Representatives. If the parties can't pass a spending plan by the end of Friday, money will stop flowing from federal coffers, and the government will start to shut down on Saturday. But what does that mean, exactly?

For the general Public: Unless you are one of 4.4 million people who work for the federal government, you probably won't notice the shutdown at first, especially since many federal offices are closed on the weekend anyway. Employees considered essential — including soldiers, security personnel and intelligence workers — will remain on the job, but operations like the Smithsonian will close. As the New York Times points out, "the National Zoo will close but the lions will get fed." Federal courts will stay open for at least a couple of weeks, operating from funds they have on hand. "After that, who knows?" courts spokeswoman Karen E. Redmond told the Times. The Post Office will stay open, as it is owned, but not operated by the federal government, but the IRS will close. That means many people waiting on refund checks will have to keep waiting. However, Social Security checks will go out.

For federal employees: Some or all of the 1.9 civilian government employees could be furloughed if they are deemed non-essential. According to the Washington Post, "any workers scheduled to take paid leave would not be able to, and some would be eligible for unemployment benefits if a shutdown continued for more than a few days." Furloughed congressional staffers have been paid in the past, the Times reports, "but the political climate now is different, and lawmakers might be less willing to do so." If the shutdown lasts more than a week or so, members of the military — deemed essential personnel — may have to go to work without pay. Reports the Post: "If the current funding expires on Friday, in the middle of the military’s two-week pay period, the Defense Department would distribute paychecks for the first week."

For Congress: A group of 21 Senate Democrats is trying to pass a bill to halt pay for Congress and the President, but that seems unlikely, the Post reports.

“Our bill is simple: If we cannot do our work and keep the government functioning, we should not receive a paycheck,” the Senate Democrats wrote to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). “If we cannot compromise and meet each other halfway, then we should not be paid.”

That said, how do you feel about having a total Government Shutdown?

Do you feel that US Soilders that are fighting for our freedom and not getting paid is fair?

How about Politicians getting paid while this is all going on, but we as citizens have to go without our checks?

Lets discuss how this affects some of us.

Your makeup is terrible, but I love you anyway.

Holy crap haru, its that real?

man... that is scary...For the sake of America, I hope they come to an agreement. Haru, you'll have to keep us updated.

Where there is light, there is always darkness.

this sucks!i hope this don't happen...of course i'm going to move to england when i'm older sooo....yeah

DONT BE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE YOU DONT KNOW THEY MIGHT BE AN MEAN!

A situation like this has been impending ever since the fight over the budget grew to such scale. But this goes to show just how much of an impact that the federal government has on our lives. And also that politicians are often too pig-headed to put the interests of their constituents before political gain.

So how do I feel about a shutdown? That's kind of a silly question. There are obvious "ethical" aspects to it, but I believe the means by which the money flows in our system is too top-heavy. Dare I mention privatization and somewhat greater fund control for local/state governments?

Just hours ago, however, both parties do insist that they've avoided a shutdown situation and reached a budget compromise. $38.5 billion in cuts is the amount that was agreed upon, not without much friction. But there will surely be more budget discussion, so it's not over yet.

Catch my drift.

John Boehner is from Skunkman's district in Ohio.

I'm predestined to have free will.

I'm siding with the Democrats, as usual, only because of Ethics. They have a point. I will discuss deeper later, but, it seems unnessecery...

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.

Siding with republicans here. Only because democrats believe that planned parenthood should be kept open while the US post office will be shut down. Keeping free abortions open while all the services of the post office are made unavalable to the country makes no sense to me.

The gov't shutdown itself shouldn't last long, the public will be enraged and a compromise will be made. If that is not the case, you may see largescale cases of civil unrest, crime rates, and mass protests within a month.

The world is not black and white, it is shades of gray.

Well, be that as it may, I'm not going with logic this time.[yet].

Hmm, well, that happens all the time anyway...

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.

I think i'd go with democrats on that one... not too sure though...i'm Canadian...

Where there is light, there is always darkness.

@King: Good enough. Besides, it's good to get foreign opinions/input, really. There's little-to-no bias that way. Just logic.

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.

I'm with the democrats. The Republicans say this will save $2 billion. This is nothing compared to our $31.4 trillion debt. Woo!

Communism: You have more water, everyone has more water!

You cansay that again, Lim.

10 years on SDK

@tehjew Uh, you're kind of way off from what our debt really is. It's roughly $14 trillion. Eh, you were only like $26.6 trillion off. :P

It's my job to help the next generation, and set a good example for them. And for that I'll gladly lay down my life.

@Skittles: Finally, an optimistic post... Wait, I don't like those... Oh well.

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.

they should take all the money gained from sports and other things and give it the to government. or give a call to bill gates. its not like he realy needs all tht money

I dream of a better tomorrow, where chickens can cross the road and not be questioned about their motives.

@Kion: Considering that the morons we call athletes in "football" are angry that they don't get paid ENOUGH, I don't think it's likely. The Jersey Shore idiots are getting paid $100,000 per "episode", if you can call it that. They do nothing for society. Force them to help.

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.

XD For some reason i read the debt as 31.4 trill, not 14.3. Backwards, lol. Sorry.

Communism: You have more water, everyone has more water!

@tehjew I was ust messing with you. :P

Anyway, a government shutdown would be interesting. I believe the last time it happened was during Clinton's term.

It's my job to help the next generation, and set a good example for them. And for that I'll gladly lay down my life.

Really? I never knew that... Then again, I study History, not Current Events... Wait, why am I in this thread then?! :D

Whoa bro, better slow down bro, don't wanna be a bro, bro.