The Official Government Shutdown Thread -

[Dynamite Ninja]

Since a few people were wondering if Chris would lose his because of the government shutdown, I thought I would make an official thread about the shutdown itself. What are your thoughts on this? How does it affect you? Are you indifferent to it? all these questions and more can be answered with your responses down below.

 

[Fibonacci]

I don't like the idea of being taxed $1500 annually for not having healthcare, but I really, really don't like Republicans using workers and the poor as punching bags while they still get paid to do nothing. Congress is no better than Chris.

 

[The Hunter]

I don't like the fact that my dad's out of a paycheck until further notice.

 

[random_pickle]

Does Congress still get paid while the Government is shut down?

 

[Fibonacci]

Does Congress still get paid while the Government is shut down?

Yes. Obama, too.

 

[Pikonic]

Does Congress still get paid while the Government is shut down?

Yes. Obama, too.

But NASA and the CDC, no fuck them.
I wish I could get into a disagreement with my coworkers and my boss be like "go on vacation, fully paid, until you work something out"
The last gov shutdown was '96 and it lasted about a month.

 

[Bgheff]

The funny part is the health care plan goes into effect and will be paid for regardless of the shutdown. It accomplishes nothing other than a "fuck you" from the teaparty Reppublicans.

 

[Lady Houligan]

I have to say I'm a bit pissed at the media for trivializing the event by only talking about the national parks shutting down. At least the local media up here is anyways. Otherwise I'm stressed out by the thought that my brother-in-law may not be getting paid in a timely way (he's Coast Guard which means he falls under Homeland Security, not military) and my sister won't have access to her WIC vouchers if this goes longer than a month.

 

[FearfulJesuit]

So if it lasts longer than a month, will Chris lose his tugboat, as well? What if the government defaults?

 

[PvtRichardCranium]

Basically, all this is is the Republicans covering their ears and screaming at the top of their lungs because they didn't get what they want. It's total bullshit. Chris will still get his tugboat, as will I (don't worry, I only use it to buy my medication and groceries), and we won't get put into a state of total anarchy.

A government shutdown isn't the government literally stopping. We had one in the early 90's and it was for the same reason, Hillary wanted to pass a health care law (that didn't get passed) so the far right bawwed and rolled around on the floor crying like little bitches. This time, them throwing a shitfit won't get them what they want though.

Don't worry, we're still going to have police and firefighters and the such. However, a lot of people won't get paid, and that's bullshit.

 

[Pikonic]

So if it lasts longer than a month, will Chris lose his tugboat, as well? What if the government defaults?

No, is considered a essential, like the military, jerkops, taxes, and mail.
From the NBC article

During a shutdown, you can:

Get help from 911: All emergency services will continue as usual, including law enforcement and emergency and disaster assistance.

Get mail: Employees of the United States Postal Service are exempt from furloughs.

Get your Social Security benefits: Payments will still be issued, although some could be delayed due to a reduction in workforce.

Get a passport, probably: The Bureau of Consular Affairs is funded by fees rather than appropriated funds, so it will continue to operate, a spokesperson told NBC Washington. However, some State Department passport offices are located in federal buildings that may have to shut down, so you should check to see if your preferred passport office is open before visiting.

Sign up for healthcare exchanges: Despite the GOP's attempts to defund or delay the Affordable Care Act, the plan is already funded, and online healthcare exchanges are scheduled to open Tuesday for uninsured Americans. (Read more.)

Be protected by the U.S. military: All active-duty military personnel are exempt from furloughs, although they could stop receiving pay in mid-October. (They would be paid retroactively when the government reopens.)

Ride Amtrak: While Amtrak receives federal subsidies, it's organized as a corporation and collects enough revenue in ticket fees to outlast a brief shutdown.

Travel by air: Federal air traffic controllers and most TSA agents would continue showing up to work, although you may find some longer lines at security checkpoints.

Apply for a new patent: The U.S Patent Office is funded for the next four weeks, which should be enough to outlast any government shutdown.

Safely eat meat: Meat inspectors with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue to report to work because they're essential for public safety.

Learn about the unemployment rate: The September jobs report will be released Friday.

Get an unemployment check: Checks will still be sent out, although some payments may be delayed due to a reduction in workforce.

Get food stamps: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will continue to be distributed.

Pay taxes: All tax payments will continue to be processed. Note that millions of taxpayers have requested 6-month extensions on their 2012 tax filings, and that the deadline for that is Oct. 15. That deadline is not expected to change.

Get weather warnings and watches: All National Weather Service offices will be open and will continue to provide forecasts and severe weather alerts.


During a shutdown, you can't:

Apply for new Medicare or Social Security benefits: While current recipients will continue to receive payments, a reduction in staff would mean no new applications can be processed.

Get a new small business loan: Existing loans would be honored, but new applications would not be accepted.

Go to the Smithsonian or National Zoo: About 90 percent of the museums' 6,400 workers will be furloughed, with all museums and the zoo to be closed. The animals will still get fed, but visitors won't be around to see that.

Camp in a national park: All national parks -- from Yosemite to Acadia -- will close, and day visitors will have to leave immediately. (But longer-term campers already in parks will have two days to leave.)

Visit a Civil War battlefield: Like national parks, historic battlefields will be closed.

Watch the National Zoo's Panda Cam: We know -- in the event of a government shutdown, there are more important things for many people to worry about. But Washington, D.C.'s first panda cub in years was a cause for celebration around the region, and huge numbers of fans have flocked to the Panda Cam since the cub's birth in August.

Visit the Capitol: While the Capitol will remain open for congressional matters, it will be closed to visitors.

Check the legal work status of an employee: The E-Verify system allows employers across the country to check on immigration status, but it's a federal website, which means it would be shut down.

 

[Bugaboo]

So some people won't be paid during this? That really sucks monkey balls

 

[Bob's Fries]

And... this is the type of shit that makes me wonder if our taxpayer money is worth anything any more.

 

[Judge Holden]

As a Britisher I find the utterly hysterical tantrum the tea partiers have been throwing over a slight alteration of healthcare due to their endless screeching and conspiracy theories about SOCIALISED HEALTHCARE IS EVIL AND SCARY!!!! about as insane as it gets. Sure its fairly obvious their financial backers are a big part of this but I honestly dont get the Mccarthy-esque hysteria over anything being "Socialised", especially when such a definition would be far, far more applicable to the US military which the tea-partiers seem to want to massively increase public spending in (or at the very least keep "socialised").

Hell, even the farest of the far right in the UK from neo-thatcherites to UKIP would not dare try to "de-socialise" the NHS

 

[Watcher]

As a Britisher I find the utterly hysterical tantrum the tea partiers have been throwing over a slight alteration of healthcare due to their endless screeching and conspiracy theories about SOCIALISED HEALTHCARE IS EVIL AND SCARY!!!! about as insane as it gets. Sure its fairly obvious their financial backers are a big part of this but I honestly dont get the Mccarthy-esque hysteria over anything being "Socialised", especially when such a definition would be far, far more applicable to the US military which the tea-partiers seem to want to massively increase public spending in (or at the very least keep "socialised").

Hell, even the farest of the far right in the UK from neo-thatcherites to UKIP would not dare try to "de-socialise" the NHS

It's most funny since the US government has saved money since the induction of Obamacare

 

[The Hunter]

So some people won't be paid during this? That really sucks monkey balls

My dad works for the government. We're depending on my mom this month. She's a teacher. We're a family of six with two in college living off a middle school teacher's salary despite the fact that we hardly got by on my dad's salary until this shit is over. You wanna talk monkey balls?

 

[Pikonic]

They really should keep paying the people who didn't start the shutdown. Congress needs their paycheck, but fuck you to the ticket booth guy at the Grand Canyon. Acadia (the state of AZ is keeping the canyon open)
Also the picture above me is kinda infuriating.

 

[Fibonacci]

The government is worse than Hitler and deserves to die.

 

[Pikonic]

The government is worse than Hitler and deserves to die.

?

 

[random_pickle]

I talked to my dad about it this morning, according to him, Congress should at least be penalized some how.