Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/13/2018 9:07:51 AM

Would we really miss anything?? Maybe shutdown The do nothing Congress Without Pay

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/13/2018 11:17:40 AM

I think if it was shut down for more than a few days, you would miss it.  You would not be able to get help with social security and medicare, companies would have to shut down new marketing and development efforts that they want to do with foreign companies, and already screwed veterans would get any help at all from the VA.  Veteran healthcare facilities would shut down too.   No new benefit claims from veterans would not be processeed.  No new claims for SS and Medicare would be processed.  Quaterly tax payments would not be processed.  Government spending would shut down.  You and I might not notice immediately, but there are segments of our socieity that would be immediately affected.  

I agree that maybe Congress should have a few months of no pay, just to impress upon them what their decisions render.  Of course, if they have been there any length of time, they are already millionaires, so they might not notice.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/13/2018 5:51:11 PM

Gubment “employees” (term used loosely) gotta be praying for a free vacation.  Everybody gets free paid vacation @ Christmas....boy, boy...how terrible.  Citizens suffer gubment slugs get great benefit.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/14/2018 6:49:57 AM

In reality all that get's shut down is what are termed non-essential functions.  And Hound is wrong about the VA, it is considered an essential function.  Social Security is also considered an essential function so the checks go out as is DHS and the military.  Agencies like BLM, EPA and other non-essential agencies furlough their employees but they always get paid when the shutdown ends....always!  Think about, approximately 2.4M federal employees get furloughed for a few days to weeks of paid vacation because they are "non-essential".  Would be funny if it weren't so sad.

In case you don't believe me here is an article from Time that demonstrates why it's nothing like it gets portrayed in the media.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/actually-shuts-down-during-government-185750868.html

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/14/2018 10:29:28 AM

Okay Martini, let me correct you.  Everyone is not an "essential employee" during a shut down, so although these organizations you mentioned may be deemed "essential", they will be minimually staffed, so I will stand on what I previously posted. There are a few poeple deemed essential in every department and they will be paid.  It is not automatic that people receive reimbursement if they are off during the shutdown - it requires special legislation by Congress, as to whether back pay will be made or not.  So it is nothing like a paid vacation. When the government shuts down, people will be presented with a formal letter that says that you may not report to work and that there is no guarentee that you will be paid.  The employee do not know how long they will shut the government down, and if or when they will get back payback.  They have expenses and bills just like everyone else, so it is stressful not knowing if the bills are going to be get paid.  No one in the government takes a shut down lightly.  

The military will get paid whether the government is shut down or not, and they are required to report for duty.  Support contractors may be required to report for work at their company - but unless it is a big company - they may or may not get paid, because technically the government is closeed down because they are out of money. 

And then you have all the people that have businesses that are serving the government population - restaurants, dry cleaners, laundry services, coffee shops, etc  that will lose money if the government employees are not at work.  

It's much more complex than just what you seem to think.  

Name:	lucky67 -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/14/2018 10:50:03 AM

well i for one am willing to "suffer" a govt shutdown to protect our border & citizens--lets not forget the American citizens gunned down, killed in car crashes,  murdered by illegals already here

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/14/2018 10:29:13 PM

Not placing a value judgment on that. I just think it is a shame that this is viewed as a test of wills among our politicians.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Shutdown
Date:	12/17/2018 4:31:54 PM

No, I get that.  But it is also not the disaster that the media makes it out to be.  And I defy you to give me one example where the Federal employees did not get back pay.  There have been multiple shutdowns over the last 30 years (some for just a few days) and they have gotten their back pay every single time.  That to me makes it a guarantee.  But some of the areas you claimed would be impacted like the VA will not because they are deemed essential.