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London Zoo: [Closed] U.S. Government Shutdown-Thoughts?

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  1.  (9731.41)
    wow, really? my knee jerk opinion is GOOD.

    reduce the military pay and benefits, and then maybe the mythical 'average' person starts to see how fucked all of this is.

    maybe im totally wrong here, but im past the point of being able to figure out what more can be done until people start to see that we are all in this together.

    (now im just a whiny hippy)
  2.  (9731.42)
    Well, I've just been informed that my vacation is over. I've been off since Sunday, and tomorrow was my last day of vacation. No longer, it seems. My post has been filled, but if there's a shutdown, all leave has been cancelled, so I have to go to work.

    I'm told that we've all been directed to check out The Office of Personnel Management's website for instructions, and that all "excepted" or essential employees like myself will definitely be paid (eventually) after the shutdown, but there is no guarantee for "non-excepted" or non-essential staff, which means, they're off work, unpaid, and probably can't get another job (or, they're not allowed to) fast enough to make it matter.

    Luckily, my landlord's cool enough to wait until the shutdown's over to worry about my rent, exact words were, "We're not worried about it, we know you'll pay us when it's over." So I'm very fortunate there. Too many people I know (Federal or Military) are looking at a much worse situation.

    I cant's stand Rand Paul, or the Tea party, but this situation is sounded less the fault of Tea Partiers, and more the fault of the old guard republicans.

    Rand said something fairly intelligent though.
    Today he introduced the “Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011.” A press released announcing the bill included the following:
    The proposal ensures that essential government services continue to function in absence of the passage of a spending bill, and incentivizes Congress to act.
    You may ask: what incentives would congress have to act? Well…
    Congressmen, Senators, and the President do not receive a salary during the emergency, and are not eligible for back pay when the emergency is vacated.


    Basically, politicians don't get paid, and the Federal Workforce get paid at 75% of their salaries. It's not perfect, nobody gets everything they want, but it keeps the government working. And I'm sure the Senators and Congressmen would be very motivated for a speedy return to normal operations. Rand said, that if nothing else, we should pass this bill even if a budget cannot be agreed upon. I hate to say it, but I can live with that.
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      CommentAuthorbjacques
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2011
     (9731.43)
    @Government Spy:

    You've got a damn cool landlord. I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with Rand Paul, but I like his bill a lot. And it tests politicians on whether they really want to reduce the deficit, right now, before absolutely anything else. Living and working in Washington DC isn't cheap, especially for freshman Tea Party Reps.
  4.  (9731.44)
    Congressmen, Senators, and the President do not receive a salary during the emergency, and are not eligible for back pay when the emergency is vacated

    This is a suprise. Part of me thinks, "wow, this is comendable" the other part of me thinks, " is this a trick?"

    I am doubtful that this bill will pass, but if it does, i am very curious to know who voted for and against.

    Also, will this be effective? Aren't most, if not all, politicians relatively wealthy? Or is this a misconception on my part.?

    For the average american, suspension of pay can be devastating. For the wealthy, its a reduction in revenue stream.
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      CommentAuthorDervaspa
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2011
     (9731.45)
    While not horribly terribly worried (yet) about this... I'm most disturbed by the personal intimate effects this can have on me. Yes i may have trouble paying my bills and my mortgage, but most of the businesses I pay to have let us skip a month when we were financially troubled before, sometimes doubling up at a later date or filtering it over time int our later bills.

    What I'm worried about, and many people in my position are also worried about is the fact that Military spouses overseas have to pay for their internet and phone just like the rest of us. If this goes through (which as of now seems definite unless the sides get their shit together in under 5 hours) Many military who are having to pay two bill sets will have to choose to pay one or the other, essentially cutting off 'easy' access to communicating with their partners, when for many people that 'ease' is already a difficult, frustrating thing to deal with.

    I am scared about what we will do if this shut down goes through both financially and personally. It's one (uncomfortable) thing to ask military personnel to work without pay, it is another to ask them to work without pay AND contact with their loved ones.
  6.  (9731.46)
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      CommentAuthorAlan Tyson
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2011
     (9731.47)
    Thank you little baby laser-eyed Jesus.
  8.  (9731.48)
    I have to give the Dems some credit and admit being a day behind when I opined last night.

    By breaking (agreeing to almost all cuts) a hair before deadline, they got the Repubs to reveal a bit too mainstreamly that they were willing to tank the gov over a purely social issue, i.e. pap smears. As of this second though, I don't know if Planned Parenthood funding was spared but it seemed likely to the blogdrome halfway through today that it would be.
  9.  (9731.49)
    Alright. I'm getting a fucking drink. Thank God. Thank everyone for pitching in thoughts and ideas, good wishes and everything. Meet you all here next week for a rehash of the same shit?
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      CommentAuthorAlan Tyson
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2011 edited
     (9731.50)
    Hope says no, gut says yes. I suppose we'll find out what got tacked onto the agreement to make this happen in the meantime. Govspy, I think I'll join you.
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      CommentAuthorNeila
    • CommentTimeApr 8th 2011
     (9731.51)
    @government spy Let's hope they get their shit together and this doesn't repeat next week, if it does we'll be here for sure. XD Enjoy the drink!
  12.  (9731.52)
    They left Title X alone. For now.
  13.  (9731.53)
    @Alan cheers, mate.

    I'm feeling good. Granted, this situationisnt over, but it feels like there's an end in sight. While I'm feeling good, I'm gonna go get laid while I still can.
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      CommentAuthorFinagle
    • CommentTimeApr 9th 2011 edited
     (9731.54)
    > I'm gonna go get laid while I still can.

    Those Republican fucks just ruin *everything* don't they?
  15.  (9731.55)
    It was late, I meant before she went to bed. Ugh. I'm so romantic.

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