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| Home Front: Politix |
| Not Actually A Shutdown |
| 2013-10-01 |
| [Nat'lReview] The hysterical fears about the effects of a government "shutdown" being voiced by many in Washington, such as Senator Tom Harkin (D., Iowa), who claims it is "as dangerous as the break-up of the Union before the Civil War," are almost comical. The truth from the experience of prior shutdowns, applicable federal laws, Justice Department legal opinions, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives, is that crucial government services and benefits would continue without interruption even if Congress fails to agree on a continuing resolution (CR) or President Obama vetoes it. That includes all services essential for national security and public safety -- such as the military and law enforcement -- as well as mandatory government payments such as Social Security and veterans' benefits. A 1981 memorandum by David Stockman during the Reagan administration that is still relied on by the OMB laid out the services that continue without interruption during any government "shutdown": o National security, including the conduct of foreign relations essential to the national security or the safety of life and property; So planes, trains, and automobiles will keep running and TSA will keep patting you down. The president can continue to go on overseas trips to conduct foreign relations. Social Security and Medicaid benefits will keep going out. The Border Patrol will keep patrolling our borders to prevent illegal crossings (at least as much as this administration will let it do that). The Federal Bureau of Prisons will keep convicted criminals in prison and the FBI will continue making arrests and investigating violations of the law. The FDA and the Department of Agriculture will continue their safety testing and inspection of food and drugs, and medical care of inpatients and emergency outpatient care will keep right on going. The Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department will keep printing and borrowing money and protecting the banking system. Unfortunately, the Internal Revenue Service will continue collecting taxes. It is certainly true that "nonessential" federal employees will be furloughed. But so many federal employees are considered "essential" that when President Bill Clinton vetoed a CR in November 1995 in a dispute with Newt Gingrich over a balanced budget and welfare reform, only about 800,000 out of a total of almost 4.5 million federal employees were furloughed. In a second funding gap from December 1995 to January 1996, only about 300,000 employees were furloughed. So the vast majority of federal workers will keep right on working. |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #17 Send the entire Congress to Syria. No ransom will be paid. The survivors, if any, are eligible to run for re-election. |
| Posted by: Anguper Hupomosing9418 2013-10-01 17:40 |
| #16 Not Actually A Shutdown With the non-essentials now suspended, haven't the Tea Party types actually achieved their goal of smaller government? Given all the waivers for 'essential', they just have to address real issues as they come up individually. Don't throw me into that briar patch! |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-10-01 15:14 |
| #15 Phase 1: Tar, feathers, rail, politicians; some assembly required. If that does not produce the desired effect proceed to Phase 2: Rope, lamppost, politicians; some assembly required. Historically these have eventually worked to restore respect (or fear, I'm not particular) of the people by the political class. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2013-10-01 12:41 |
| #14 So with your law, Congress gets jailed, but the President just gets kicked out of office. I wouldn't trust the current President with that law, especially since his party blocks everything the House does and blames them at the same time. |
| Posted by: Thing From Snowy Mountain 2013-10-01 11:41 |
| #13 My original idea was burning them on the Mall, but it's a bit rough and my wife always gives me funny looks. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2013-10-01 11:34 |
| #12 Silentbrick, you are sooooo funny. I agree with you. Unfortunately, since Congress would have to pass any such laws, and congress never passes a law that hurts members, it ain't gonna happen. My approach would be to lock them all in the Capitol building. After three days, cut off the water (which would shut off the bathrooms). After another three days, shut off food deliveries. Three days later, cut off the air. Not the air conditioning, the air. After another week or so, call special elections to get replacements. Lather, rinse, repeat as necessary. |
| Posted by: Rambler in Virginia 2013-10-01 11:10 |
| #11 The answer is again, simple. The law requires a budget. Increase the penalties to the top 10 senior senate members and house members to 50 years in prison. Hold special elections and fill their seats. Continue until you get a budget or a new congress. Oh and if it goes 3 years and the president has veto'd more than twice, it's an automatic high crimes and he's AUTOMATICALLY impeached. Hold these morons responsible for their jobs like actual humans are. |
| Posted by: Silentbrick - Oil Rig Insanity Division 2013-10-01 10:07 |
| #10 Loans requiring federal signature (FHA etx.) won't be approved. I suspect most permits from regulatory agencies won't be approved, stopping lots of construction projects, etc. It won't take more than a couple of weeks of no new permits to shut down the economy, I suspect. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2013-10-01 09:58 |
| #9 Mrs. Ret. was told to come in for 'maybe' 4 hours today, primarily to get the official furlough notification. My task for today is to go to the bank and hit the retirement IRA to make the bills. Also will be sending Happy Shutdown emails to my two fine Donk WA Senators. |
| Posted by: USN, Ret. 2013-10-01 09:38 |
| #8 So the vast majority of federal workers will keep right on working. Yeah, right! Like that ever happens... Oh, wait... That's me. Working here, boss. You betcha! |
| Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839 2013-10-01 09:28 |
| #7 Medi-caid is for people with limited income and assets. If the applicant has assets and bank accounts that have "respectable totals", the applicant probably won't get the benefit. I believe the 2 year window for transfer of assets has now been extended to 5. With eligibility for Obamacare and a future 'single payer' scheme based on assets and income, who will grandma transfer her estate assets to ? Another door conveniently closed on earners and savers. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2013-10-01 09:02 |
| #6 If you look at that list, the fundamental theme is 'security'. That was one of the basics put forth in the Federalists Papers justifying a reformed (from the Articles of Confederation) national governing body. Amazing how much the barnacle build up on the 'ship of state' since those writings. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2013-10-01 08:50 |
| #5 If the furloughed are 'nonessential' why has the government hired them? If I hire someone to cut the grass I don't hire another to sit on the porch. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2013-10-01 06:00 |
| #4 I don't see anything about the Peanut Allotment in the otherwise excellent list of what the Feds ought to be doing all the time and only. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2013-10-01 04:21 |
| #3 IOW, this is just the latest in what may prove to be an infinite series of Squirrel!s. Which is good since we were all tired of Benghazi, the IRS, yadda yadda yadda, right? |
| Posted by: SteveS 2013-10-01 01:26 |
| #2 OOOOPPPSSS, forgot REAL CLEAR POLITICS/WORLD > UNFORTUNATELY, OBAMA STILL OWNS THE "SYRIA" MESS. Plus Libya + Egypt before that. * Also from SAME > A WORLD WHERE NO ONE LISTENS TO [Superpower] AMERICA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2013-10-01 00:21 |
| #1 IIUC, IOW the Bammer can't blame the Sequester or Shutdown for his surrender on Syria??? Or IRAN? or CHINA? or ...@etc??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2013-10-01 00:18 |