# How long with the US gov't shutdown last **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 1, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087 "2013-10-01T13:54:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/1 "2013-10-01T13:54:05Z")
Wondering how long folk think this debacle wwill last and why? I’m having a hard time seeing the endgame, so I’ll start things off by guessing 14 days - thinking something will get done over the Columbus Day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/2 "2013-10-01T14:11:10Z")
I voted 10-14, but more precisely, I’d think it’s probably 14 or 15 days, so I picked the lower one. Shutting down the government sucks and it hurts a lot of people, but it’s mostly a short-term pain. I think the big battle is going to be over the debt ceiling which is going to do a lot more long-term damage to this country if it doesn’t pass. Frankly, I think this government shutdown is really just a play in the longer game of playing chicken over that, in a sort of “you think we’re bluffing? We already shut down the government, we’ll default too.” Either way, there’s no way they can be that stupid to let that happen, someone will flinch, and when they do that, they’ll likely sign the budget because someone won this game of chicken. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/3 "2013-10-01T14:11:36Z")
I say more than a couple, less than a week. The hardliners want to show they mean business, but the leadership and rational Republicans will make something happen before the brand gets too damaged. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/4 "2013-10-01T15:03:19Z")
Like a schmuck, I was putting some thought into how I would best assume my new job next week, heading a government office other than the one in which I currently work. Was putting some thought into how best to motivate my workforce, how to build upon past successes, and how to improve where possible. It will be a somewhat different prospect should I find myself heading a skeleton force simply putting out fires as they arise… ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/5 "2013-10-01T15:26:37Z")
I think it doesn’t get resolved until there is also a breakthrough on the debt limit, which is expected to become a crisis on October 17. Back up a day or two and I voted 14 days, but I think it’s more likely to be 14-16 days. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/6 "2013-10-01T16:04:37Z")
Long enough to damage the republican party for years to come. Hopefully. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2013, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/7 "2013-10-02T03:59:06Z")
I’ve got $5 on…early February. I’m feeling adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![agnesnitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d78d45/32.png) [@agnesnitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agnesnitt)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/8 "2013-10-03T01:21:29Z")
4-5 days. Which means that is the absolutely wrong answer. I’m terrible at predicting furloughs despite 40 years federal service. I need a break though. I’m exhausted getting everything ready for the furlough. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/9 "2013-10-03T01:56:18Z")
The ultimate deadline is October 17th. ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-with-the-us-govt-shutdown-last/670087/10 "2013-10-03T03:28:14Z")
Can I claim “never”?