# Can anyone explain the government shutdown to me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-government-shutdown-to-me/669994>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [September 30, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-government-shutdown-to-me/669994 "2013-09-30T12:24:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [October 7, 2013, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-explain-the-government-shutdown-to-me/669994/101 "2013-10-07T04:42:23Z")

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> [@adaher](#):
>
> In order for a government to perform that role, it has to manage its finances wisely. Norway does. Most countries do not.

Actually, you just need to live in a parliamentary system. For instance, under the British parliamentary system, which has spread around the world, it’s the most fundamental duty of a government to maintain the government in operation. If a government can’t pass a budget, there has to be an election: the people break the impasse, promptly

And during that election, the government doesn’t shut down. Just like any other election, there are standing appropriations in force to authorise spending government money to keep the government operating until the voters decide whether to keep the government in power, or to vote in a new government…

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