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Is A “Shutdown” Really A Shutdown?

To hear Democrats (and many Republicans) tell it, a government shutdown would be a cataclysmic event – rocking the nation to its very core. But is that really the case? No. In fact nearly half of the two million federal employees (that’s right – the federal government has two million…

To hear Democrats (and many Republicans) tell it, a government shutdown would be a cataclysmic event – rocking the nation to its very core.

But is that really the case?

No. In fact nearly half of the two million federal employees (that’s right – the federal government has two million employees) would remain at their posts during a shutdown. In fact during the 1995-96 shutdown less than half of all government employees were sent home.

If the U.S. House and Senate fail to reach a deal on a short-term spending plan prior to September 30, there’s a whole laundry list of things which will continue to receive funding.

American military operations would still be subsidized. Border Patrol agents would still … um, patrol our borders. Federal prisons would continue to house criminals. Social Security checks would still be mailed. Emergency medical care, food inspections, disaster relief, veterans benefits … all of these would continue to be provided.

The debt-addled U.S. Post Office – which honestly needs to be shut down – would remain open. So would the Federal Reserve, which means the government’s ongoing money-printing wouldn’t skip a beat.

Oh … and Homeland Security will continue to “touch your junk” and Uncle Sam will continue to spy on you during a government shutdown, because those are “excepted” positions.

And last but not least? Members of the U.S. Congress will continue to get paid.

So yeah … a “shutdown” isn’t really everything it’s cracked up to be now is it?

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22 comments

lexguy September 25, 2013 at 1:15 pm

A shutdown just means that non-essential personnel need not report for work until after the shutdown is over and then they will go back to work and get all of their back pay! Which, of course, begs the question…why do we have ‘non-essential’ personnel?

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Nikki Sicks September 25, 2013 at 1:41 pm

Other countries must watch us like a midday soap.

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Frank Pytel September 25, 2013 at 1:45 pm

Just another paid vacation on the taxpayer dime.

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CNSYD September 25, 2013 at 2:08 pm

Sic Willie opines that we should strictly follow the Constitution. Then he says “The debt-addled U.S. Post Office – which honestly needs to be shut down..” The Constitution requires a post office. You planning on changing the Constitution?

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Smirks September 25, 2013 at 3:22 pm

The Constitution often only means what the reader wants it to. You know, like the Bible or the rule book for Scrabble.

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BrokenWindows September 25, 2013 at 4:54 pm

The post office wouldn’t have as bad of a debt problem if it had not been forced to pre-fund health care and pensions for employees that haven’t been born yet.

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Frank Pytel September 26, 2013 at 7:53 am

Yeah, but Congress has to have money to steal…. uh spend from somewhere. They devastated SSI not long after it was instituted and they need the money to keep those welfare baby votes coming. Your 401K is next 8-0

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Well now... September 26, 2013 at 7:35 pm

Frances, the SS trust fund is actually pretty well solvent – as compared to most goverment programs. That 16 Trillion everyone keeps discussing – about 5 trillion is intra-governmental debt that the government owes to itself. Almost all of that 5 Trillion is owed to the Social Security and Medicare Trust Fund.
Without that money, how else could have had these adventures in Iraq, adventures in Pakistan, adventures in National Security domestic spying, adventures in nationalized healthcare, et cetera – ad nasuem?

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Pottymouth September 25, 2013 at 5:45 pm

But – Does the Constitution require the Post Office to deliver mail?

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? September 25, 2013 at 6:53 pm

Not efficiently nor effectively.

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CNSYD September 25, 2013 at 2:17 pm

“that’s right – the federal government has two million employees” Figures lie and liars figure. The population of the US is greater than 314 million. Those 2 million employees were hired to perform the tasks assigned them by the laws of the US. 2 million out of 314 million is very slightly (.006) greater than 1/2 of one percent.

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Smirks September 25, 2013 at 3:29 pm

You’re talking to the guy who once had a (probably decent-paying) state government job but bashes state government employees and what they make.

Rob Godfrey made $74,160/year as Haley’s press secretary, according to the state employee salary database.

Oh, and there were more federal employees during the Reagan and Bush years, where federal employment was actually on the rise.

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Stephan September 25, 2013 at 2:58 pm

Nothing will shutdown and Ted Cruz did nothing but ensure obamacare gets funded and the house will blame him

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Ass Blow September 25, 2013 at 4:55 pm

Gee some of the welfare tit suckers might actually have to get a job if no one can cut the gov’ment checks!!

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9" September 25, 2013 at 5:43 pm

‘The debt-addled U.S. Post Office – which honestly needs to be shut down’

How’s your wife,with the Amazon Prime account gonna feel about that? You gonna buy her a pony?

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Frank Pytel September 26, 2013 at 7:36 am

That’s all fedex/ups. USPS doesn’t deliver anything but Gubmint subpoenas and IRS correspondence anymore.

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Just a guy September 25, 2013 at 6:41 pm

Service members will continue to work but without pay. Civilians (mostly) will be furloughed: i.e.; laid off without pay. The Post Office is not a federal agency anymore. Apples and Oranges.

Go ahead and take 1.2 million incomes out of the market and watch it trickle down. (Yes, true “trickle-down economics” as restaurants, dry cleaners, barbers … name many businesses … will see some reduction in cash flow.)

Oh, Obamacare is already funded and will not be cut by not passing a budget (or more likely, a continuing resolution.)

Wall Street’s shrinking for the past five days straight must give Congress pause that people outside of the Beltway are indeed paying attention. But probably now.

Ooh-rah, America. Ooh-rah.

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Frank Pytel September 26, 2013 at 7:35 am

Lies. This has happened before. Everyone gets a paid vacation.

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Soft Sigh from Hell September 25, 2013 at 8:02 pm

The Toll of Teabaggery

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Mguzman September 26, 2013 at 6:58 am

Congress would continued to get paid as we wouldn’t expect any different, would we but would the President do without?

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Frank Pytel September 26, 2013 at 7:34 am

I expect them all to return all of the money they have stolen to date, including that provided to their whiny little welfare mommas and babies

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9" September 26, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Where’s FITS in that pic? He keeps good company.

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