Surviving the Big Shutdown Live Thread

October 1, 2013 | Pan_Yan

[Pan_Yan]

Despite the palpable fear in the air I ventured out this morning and headed towards The City. Everything seemed calm- traffic flowing, street lights on- but I'm taking no chances. Even on Free Republic the normal early morning posts to the prayer threads and Religion Forum seem tense.

I figured the rioting won't start until dawn when the government workers who are oh-so-vital to keeping our society funcitoning on every single level don't show up.

Please post your updates as our society plunges into chaos, spins out of control, or whatever other cliche you'd like to use.

[Winstons Julia]

Your comment made me laugh.

[kevkrom]

Some, of course, are still working. Obviously “essential” employees are still on duty (people whose jobs immediately affect safety, national security, and the like), plus there’s a lot of government that doesn’t fall under the spending in the budget process — anything funded by user fees, for example, doesn’t need a Congressional budget to keep in operation.

[libertarian27]

Stay away from the Malls
Govies will be shopping for Christmas.

This will keep the part-time retail employees busy.

[central_va]

ok what city is that?

[Thorliveshere]

OH-EM-GEE! Wot ‘em ah eva gunna do! Dere’s no oxie-jen wit owt da’ gummit, riiite?

[RayChuang88]

Our government has WAY too much bureaucratic overlap, bloated agencies, too many obsolete/unneeded laws and an awful, economy-inhibiting income tax system. Maybe a shutdown will FINALLY force the "Beltway insiders" to realize these facts.

[randita]

Yeah, Fox is reporting that a bus load of 90 year old WWII vets are traveling to DC to see the WWII Memorial and apparently there will be barricades around it, preventing access.

There will be tons of these kinds of stories like the family who saved for years to go see the cute cuddly bears and wolves in Jellystone Park. Cut to kids holding stuffed bears/wolves with tears running down their cheeks.

[COBOL2Java]

If he’s a contractor I feel his pain. I’m not getting paid for every day they’re shut down. I’ll use my vacation days, but then it’s LWOP.

[rurgan]

Good going Republicans ,I’m glad Republicans didn’t back down.

I’m so happy the stupid gov is shut down!

I’m glad the government is shut down. none of the government is needed except for the military and border control and that is it , get rid of the IRS, EPA, FEC, FCC, gov schools, NASA( the global warming hoax pushers), TSA, NSA, PBS, national parks, NPR etc , get rid of all that government trash

What will we do without the IRS oppressing us conservatives and Republicans?

What will we do without the NSA spying on us or the TSA groping us? without the EPA shutting down coal power plants because of a hoax called global warming?

without the government protecting us from the fake global warming hoax? what will the polar bears do now?

I’ll die without PBS lol no I won’t

[atc23]

I’m still here everyone! The dog was barking across the street as usual. I still had to pay the fedgov tax at the gas pump this morning (drat)- so far so good! Let’s see how things go - no fires, no rioting yet

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I don't think essential/nonessential is really based on what is and isn't "essential," but to a larger degree on what the left deems essential.

National Parks are closed, but the Bureau that hands out welfare to Indians (can't remember its named) is still open.

NSA is still open, military commissaries and gyms are closed.

[Nextrush]

My congressman, Scott Perry (R) of Pennsylvania’s 4th District, was on the radio just after 7AM (WHP) with apologetic comments.

He talked about the latest “bipartisan” resolution the House passed. I guess that’s the talking point Boehner and the leadership gave him.

He said he wished the Senate and the president weren’t saying “No” to everything. Another talking point.

No fighting words about how bad Obamacare will be for America like Ted Cruz gave us last week.

I’m sure Congressman Perry will campaign against Obamacare next year like they all will.

But I’m not buying his act because it falls well short of the strong conservative leadership we get from folks like Senator Ted Cruz.

My congressman already had Boehner in for a fundraiser in August and said he was “part of a team” led by Boehner.

NO MORE VOTES FOR RINO’S.....

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I noticed that public land (that is not normally under wraps) will be restricted. Why the hell is that? Areas that are not normally chained up, will be chained up — where is the money coming from for that?

[reagan_fanatic]

I’ve been up all night, crying and rocking myself back and forth.

I do believe we’ve ushered in the apocalypse. Now, to go out to the garage and look for a rope...

[kevkrom]

The general distinction is supposed to be that if the job requires being done right now or there will be severe consequences, it's "essential". If the job has to be done, but timing isn't that urgent, it's "non-essential".

Now, that's the textbook answer. In practice, the bureaucrats are as much politicians as the actual politicians themselves, so they will wiggle and twist things to their best advantage both in supporting the political position and putting their agency in the best possible light for future funding.

[Pan_Yan]

Atlanta. That picture is actually fairly old because I used to work in a 41 story building that hadn’t been built yet when it was taken.

[COBOL2Java]

LOL! Forgot about PBS! Have they rolled out Big Bird yet? Maybe he can be shown dumpster-diving for birdseed. And Elmo...oh wait, he’s in the hot tub with Obama & Reggie.

[BubbaJunebug]

Atlanta

[JRandomFreeper]

The local police are still working.

And they were pretty insistant that I HAD to wear pants, even if the government was shut down.

/johnny

[AF_Blue]

By feeding your cat, you have averted the impending end of the world - THANK YOU