Government Shutdown 12/22: Real Shutdown, Bullshit Shutdown, or No Shutdown?

[Mr.Nylock]

@Dinsdale

The idea that a wall is needed is utter nonsense. That it could be built for $5B is either fantasy or a flat out lie.

One would hope that denying needed government services, in pursuit of such goals would eventually provide incentive to an elected official with a shred of decency. I still keep wondering what happened to the decent R politicians.

The optics for this are going to get bad enough, that some sensible Rs (assuming there are any) will eventually decide the risks outweigh remaining under Trump’s thumb.

I think you underestimate the loathing for federal workers that many Trump supporters and some Republicans feel. The suffering of federal workers is a feature not a bug in all this if you’re looking from it from their perspective. A lot of how this pans out also depends upon exactly how needed those government services are. Only the passing of time will give us definitive answers to these questions.

[Snowboarder_Bo]

@Mr.Nylock

Maybe not, it seems as though both sides have strong incentives to remain dug in. I still think long term the dems will face more heat from their constituents than Trump will from his. I could be wrong.

You are. Dems will face no heat from their supporters. Meanwhile, Trump will have failed twice.

[kayaker]

@fear itself

hundreds of tsa screeners, working without pay, calling out sick at major airports.
First on CNN: Hundreds of TSA screeners calling out sick - CNNPolitics

i [asked tsa agent if i should take out my laptop out of its case and she said “i don’t care, i’m not getting paid”

](https://mobile.twitter.com/annagedstad/status/1081931776900169728)

From security theater to security stand-up.

[Steve_MB]

@Ravenman

I think the real distinction you are grasping for is IOWADDI.

No; please review the thread and when you return try to keep up with the class…

[enipla]

@Snowboarder_Bo

You are. Dems will face no heat from their supporters. Meanwhile, Trump will have failed twice.

Trump and his supporters will blame it on Hillary or Obama or perhaps the new moon. Doesn’t matter

[sub]they voted for him in the first place. He who is orange can do no wrong.[/sub]

[RTFirefly]

@Snowboarder_Bo

Can we agree that those who said “bullshit shutdown” are now also wrong?

Oh hell yeah, I wound up picking ‘bullshit shutdown’ in my own poll. And I was waaaaay wrong.

I’ve been wrong before and I’ll be there again
I don’t have any answers, my friend
-Neil Young, “Field of Opportunity”

[kopek]

@RTFirefly

Oh hell yeah, I wound up picking ‘bullshit shutdown’ in my own poll. And I was waaaaay wrong.

Under the terms of the poll its real but in my mind its still partly bullshit. Whenever it ends, unlike most shutdowns in the private sector, getting their back pay will be part of the settlement for all the workers - both those working without pay now as well as those suffering through a forced vacation. I am sure there are examples out there but right now I can’t think of one case where government workers were “shutdown” and didn’t get their checks at some point after things reopened.

[scr4]

@kopek

Under the terms of the poll its real but in my mind its still partly bullshit. Whenever it ends, unlike most shutdowns in the private sector, getting their back pay will be part of the settlement for all the workers - both those working without pay now as well as those suffering through a forced vacation. I am sure there are examples out there but right now I can’t think of one case where government workers were “shutdown” and didn’t get their checks at some point after things reopened.

It’s not just about paychecks. A lot of government work isn’t getting done because of the shutdown.

I may get my back pay, but there’s no way I can get my project at NASA back on schedule after >3 weeks of shutdown. Which means it won’t launch in FY19 and will either cost the taxpayers more to fund it through FY20, or we disappoint a lot of fellow scientists who are looking forward to our data.

Also, a lot of federal contractors aren’t getting paid now, and will never receive back pay. Some will be laid off.

[kopek]

@scr4

Also, a lot of federal contractors aren’t getting paid now, and will never receive back pay. Some will be laid off.

They have my sympathy; seriously and deeply. But at a certain level it was something known when the contracts were signed and is something they (any business) face daily working for the private or public sector. Maybe its not having anyone involved but I’m just not terribly worried if the shutdown had been a day or goes a month. See me about June if we’re still shut down and maybe I’ll change my mind.

[JohnT]

The Office of Management & Budget, a White House entity, is preparing for a shutdown which lasts to the end of February.

[RTFirefly]

@kopek

They have my sympathy; seriously and deeply. But at a certain level it was something known when the contracts were signed and is something they (any business) face daily working for the private or public sector.

Yeah, all those security guards and cleaning ladies should have been socking money away in case something like this happened! :mad:

And yeah, private companies lay people off too, but obviously this is a very very large employer, and it’s not like the local job market can absorb all of them in a short time.